Trailside Galleries

Congratulations to the Fourth Annual Jackson Hole Art Auction, hosted by Trailside Galleries and Gerald Peters Gallery, held on September 18^th at the Center for the Arts in Jackson, Wyoming! This year's auction attracted the most sophisticated collectors and venerated dealers in the field. Despite continuing concern with the current economic climate, the auction was a resounding success, with 85% of the 248 featured lots sold during an afternoon of extremely active bidding. Auctioneer Troy Black got the bidding under way at 12:30 pm, setting the pace at approximately one lot per minute. With over 230 phones bids, 75 absentee bids and more than 200 registered bidders in the audience, the atmosphere in the auditorium was palpable. As the hammer fell on the final lot, sales for the 4 ½ hour session totalled more than $6,500,000, sending a clear message that collectors are actively purchasing and are very enthusiastic about the western representational art market.

The live audience broke into loud applause when Mian Situ’s 53 x 72 oil painting. “A New Beginning, San Francisco, 1910,” estimated at $275,000 to $375,000, sold for $402,500. Other highlights included the auction catalogue cover piece, “Nasty Actor” by William R. Leigh, a 28 x 22 oil painting which fetched $414,000. The auction featured several exceptional works by the late Bob Kuhn including a 20 x 40 acrylic painting titled “Aquacade” which brought in $258,750 and a 20 1/8 x 48 acrylic painting titled “After the Short Rains” which fetched $212,750. Active bidding on an Eanger Irving Couse painting titled “The Pottery Decorator” reached a hammer price of $253,000.

As in the past years, The Jackson Hole Art Auction is donating a portion of the proceeds to benefit the Center for the Arts. The 2011 auction is scheduled to take place on Saturday, September 17.