The eighth annual, Live Jackson Hole Art Auction was held on Saturday, September 13 at the Center for the Arts in downtown Jackson Hole, Wyoming, with 213 lots sold and realizing $11.29 million in sales. Nearly 400 domestic and international collectors attended the event.

Highlights for the 2014 sale included historically significant western paintings, notable still-life works and a signature of the Jackson Hole Art Auction, important sporting and wildlife art.  Howard Terpning, “Major North and the Pawnee Battalion”, Estimate: $800,000-$1,200,000, Sold: $1,496,000. Richard Schmid, “Yellow Roses”, Estimate: $75,000-$100,000, Sold: $187,200.  Bob Kuhn, “Red Fox on Patrol”, Estimate $60,000-$80,000, Sold:$263,250.

Cowboy Artists of America member and current President, Martin Grelle, reinforced his popularity and market strength, exceeding estimates on twopaintings:  “Fires Burned Out”, Sold: $163,800 and 2014 work titled “Strategies”, Sold: $263,250.

A strong collection of work by wildlife masters included Carl Rungius’ “Moose”, Estimate: $300,000-$500,000, Sold: $546,250.  Carl Rungius, “Alarmed (Big Horn Rocky Mountain Sheep)” Estimate: $200,000-$400,000, Sold: $438,750. In addition to the “Red Fox on Patrol” Bob Kuhn’s paintings “Rocky Mountain High (Bighorn Sheep)” and “Leopard” also exceeded estimates.  Strong sales were also seen in classic western art by deceased masters such as Frederic Remington, “The Mountain Man” Bronze, Estimate: $40,000-$60,000, Sold: $128,700. John Clymer, “Buffalo Chase”, Estimate: $75,000-$125,000,Sold: $152,100.

“We are very pleased that this is our highest grossing sale to date. We are happy to report that this year’s auction not only had record sales but a very strong increase in new buyers that are choosing to attend making the Jackson Hole Art Auction a destination event.” Roxanne Hofmann, Managing Partner,Jackson Hole Art Auction.

The Jackson Hole Art Auction introduced the Inaugural Top Tier Juried Competition this year and the top award went to wildlife artist Tucker Smith. With his painting “Perspective” which sold for $81,900.  Top Tier artists, chosen by invitation, are a select group of contemporary artists with exemplary auction records.  A $10,000 cash prize was awarded to the artist whose work was of significant merit, as determined by a three person jury: Peter Hassrick, Director Emeritus & Senior Scholar, Buffalo Bill Center of the West; Jerry Smith, PhD, Curator of American & Western American Art, Phoenix Art Museum;Adam Duncan Harris, PhD, Petersen Curator of Art & Research, National Museum of Wildlife Art. The award was announced prior to the start of the auction.  

Since 2007, the Jackson Hole Art Auction has been recognized as one of the premier art events in the country, defined by the high standard of works offered in a variety of genres including wildlife, sporting, figurative, landscape and Western art by both renowned past masters and contemporary artists.  With showrooms in Scottsdale, Arizona, Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Santa Fe, New Mexico and New York, the auction partners, bring over 100 years of experience and expertise to the event.  The Jackson Hole Art Auction is a signature event of Jackson Hole’s annual Fall Arts Festival and attracts collectors from across the country as well as abroad.