Contemporary and deceased artists both raked in high prices during the evening live auction for The Russell: The Sale to Benefit the C.M. Russell Museum on Saturday, March 16, for a total of over $3.1 million in gross sales.  New attendance records were set during the entire Russell weekend annual fundraiser, which included a silent auction and quick-finish event in addition to the live auction.  The C.M. Russell Museum raised an approximate gross total of $3.6 million through The Russell, its primary fundraiser.

The Russell live auction featured eight original Charles M. Russell artworks, including several watercolors, sculptures, and an illustrated letter, which sold for a total of $1,476,500. Russell’s 1919 watercolor High, Wide, and Handsome set the new record at $550,000 for the highest-priced piece sold at The Russell live auction.  Another world record was set when R. Tom Gilleon’s Hair Apparent sold for $225,000, the highest price ever gathered for a Gilleon piece.  Andy Thomas’s Russell Paints a Masterpiece sold for $200,000 in an exciting bidding war that resulted in the crowd erupting in cheers with the final bid.  The Masterson Company, Inc. and the La Crosse Milling Company sponsored the event.

C.M. Russell Heritage Award winner Jack Gladstone led off the live auction with a special performance of “When the Land Belonged to God” with musicians Phil Aaberg and David Griffith, and a paddle raise that grossed $129,000 for the Russell Museum’s educational programming and events. “This is our second educational paddle raise, and once again it garnered tremendous support from our audience,” said Christina Blackwell, co-chair of The Russell sale committee and museum board member. 

Other Russell weekend highlights include the Thursday evening silent auction of fine art, objects, and unique travel experiences. Sponsored by Calumet Montana Refining, more than 700 collectors and Russell Museum supporters attended the event.  Top selling pieces in the silent auction included Andy Thomas’s The Challenger that went for $37,500, Gary Lynn Roberts’s The Card Cheats that brought in $21,000, and Jenness Cortez’s Remington’s Legendary West that sold for $50,000.  Total gross sales for the silent auction equaled approximately $227,000.

The Russell Art in Action® event was another sellout. Sponsored by the Meredith Family, this quick-finish event was held at the Meadow Lark Country Club on Friday morning.  Nearly 800 people interacted with 26 nationally known Western artists.  Artist Daniel Parker set a new record at $20,500 for the highest-priced piece ever sold at Art in Action® with his large Indian sculpture.  The event grossed over $150,000 in art sales.  One hundred percent of the proceeds from Art in Action® were donated to the C.M. Russell Museum.

The museum receives a portion of total sales from The Russell after payments to artists and consignors.  The success of this year’s fundraiser holds more significance for museum board and staff than simply generating revenue to cover operating expenses. 

“The C.M. Russell Museum has proven that it can attract supporters and collectors that share the common goal of making the museum a world-class facility,” says Blackwell. “With the momentum from the auction, we can now look to exciting upcoming exhibitions and continue to motivate membership and participation in our tremendous museum.”

The mission of the C.M. Russell Museum is to collect, preserve, research, interpret, and educate on the art and life of Charles M. Russell; the art and life of his contemporaries; and the art of preceding and ensuing generations that depicts and focuses on the culture, life, and country of Russell’s West.