The fifth annual Jackson Hole Art Auction was held on September 17th at the Center for the Arts in Jackson, Wyoming. Hosted by Trailside Galleries and Gerald Peters Gallery, more than 88% of the featured 250 lots sold, realizing over $9,000,000 in sales. As the auction got under way at 12:30 pm, more than 300 people filled the seats of the auditorium, with some 400 registered bidders.  Bidding was very active with close to 300 phone bids and absentee bids.  Internet bidders also participated in much of the sale.  In just its fifth year, the Jackson Hole Art Auction has clearly distinguished itself as a destination event, with consignors and collectors from all across the country and abroad, including Russia, Ireland, England, and Switzerland.

The live audience broke into enthusiastic applause when Frederic Remington’s painting “He Lay Where He Had Been Jerked, Still as a Log”, a 24 ¼ x 36 ¼ oil on canvas, estimated at $1,000,000-$1,500,000, sold for $1,583,000.  Other highlights include Bob Kuhn’s painting “Study of a Cougar”, a small 16 x 12 inch acrylic on masonite, estimated at $50,000-$75,000, sold for $90,000; Charlie Dye’s painting, “Texas Brush Popper”, a 20 x 24 oil on board, estimated at $20,000 - $30,000, sold for $74,750; Frederick Remington’s iconic bronze “Bronco Buster #16” estimated at $400,000 - $600,000, sold for $488,750; John Clymer’s painting “Marie Dorian – Winter Refuge, 1814”, a 40 x 30 oil on board, estimated $200,000 - $300,000, sold for $391,000. 

Once again, the Jackson Hole Art Auction succeeded in breaking artists’ auction records.  Clark Huling’s painting “Grand Canyon”, a 31 x 47 oil on canvas, sold for $345,000, a new record for a Hulings sold at auction.  The previous record was set at the Jackson Hole Art Auction in 2008. Richard Schmid’s painting “The Last Lilies”, a 14 x 19 oil on board, estimated at $15,000 - $25,000 sold for $69,000, a record breaking sale for a Schmid painting of this size.

The 33 lots from the Emily Oliver Estate, 4LazyF Ranch in Jackson Hole saw active bidding and realized strong prices.  Highlights from the collection include Charles Russell’s drawing “Riders on the Mountain Trail”, a 10 ½ x 9 ½ pen and ink on paper, estimated at $10,000 - $15,000, sold for $43,125; Olaf Seltzer’s painting “Charles Russell with Horse”, a 12 ¾ x 8 ¾ watercolor on paper, estimated at $25,000 - $35,000, sold for $74,750.

Contemporary artists work also brought very active and strong bidding.  Morgan Weistling’s painting “Alice” brought $86,250 and Ken Riley’s “Feathers and Paint” brought $25,875.  Mian Situ’s painting “Toy Peddler of Dupont Street” brought $230,000 and Bonnie Marris’ painting “Vantage Point” brought $37,375.

A sure sign that art enthusiasts are still looking to invest in quality works of art, we are pleased to report that the 2011 Jackson Hole Art Auction resulted in a record breaking sale in its fifth year.

Auction results available at www.jacksonholeartauction.com