Jackson, Wyoming – The twelfth annual Jackson Hole Art Auction was held on September 14th and 15th in Jackson, WY. Hosted by Trailside Galleries and the Gerald Peters Gallery, 88% percent of the 392 lots were sold over two days, realizing over $8.4 million in sales. Norman Rockwell’s iconic portrait of John Wayne stole the show, reaching its high estimate at $1,496,000 after enthusiastic bidding in the room, on the phone, and via absentee.

Fifteen new artist world records were established, including Spirit Welcome by Jerry Jordan, which realized a world record price of $55,750. Both sessions featured very active bidding across a variety of genres, excellent floor attendance, and robust remote bidding.

The cover lot, Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait’s A Slight Chance brought $456,300. Additional top sales included John Clymer’s Territorial Dispute and Thomas Moran’s Laguna, New Mexico Looking from the East, both of which sold well above their high estimates at $339,300 amid intense bidding.

Bob Kuhn’s works soared above the high estimates, with Basic Training bringing $175,500, and His Elegance selling at $76,050. Other exceptional wildlife results included Tucker Smith’s Ahead of the Storm at $93,600 and David Shepherd’s Leopards at the Waterhole selling for double its high estimate at $61,425.

American illustrators shone at this year’s Jackson Hole Art Auction, with N.C. Wyeth’s Untitled (Portrait of a Cowboy) bringing $99,450, and Dean Cornwell’s Illustration for the Enchanted Hill surpassing estimates at an impressive $128,700. W.H.D. Koerner’s Their Meeting Ground also sold above the high estimate, bringing $46,800. Muralist Thomas Hart Benton’s Study for the Pathfinder achieved a remarkable $239,850.

Other noteworthy western highlights included Frank Tenney Johnson’s Branding a Maverick ($152,100), Albert Bierstadt’s Source of the Snake River ($234,000), and Oscar Berninghaus’ Taos Field of Workers ($321,750).

Full auction results are available at www.jacksonholeartauction.com

Additional images are available upon request.