AN ARTIST whose work is represented in Young Shire Council’s art collection has sold a piece that has surpassed all previous prices for a painting by a living Australian artist.
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Sharon Davson’s original silkscreen print titled “The Church” was gifted to the council in 1989 as a show of gratitude for the generosity and support of the townspeople who made her feel welcome when she stayed in the town.
The recent sale of Davson’s painting “Points of View” for $5.2 million has outshone the record set last year by a smaller Davson artwork.
The 1.37 x 5.5 metre (4.5 by 18 foot) painting was purchased by Macquarie Trustee NZ Ltd.
Points of View was created as three continuous canvases by Davson in 1985.
The work is lavishly themed with Ms Davson’s signature jigsaw puzzle pieces, and includes subtle personal motifs woven into the expansive canvas.
It was originally commissioned by Norman Hepburn for his then Central Coast resort for $12,000. Since that time the painting has changed hands several times.
This $5.2 million (US$5.35m) sale places Ms Davson third in the world ranking by value for a painting by a living female artist.
Marlene Dumas currently holds this record with a sale value of US$6.3 million for her painting “The Visitor”. A US$5.8 million work by Yayoi Kusama from Tokyo is second. Cady Noland takes the overall value record for art by a living female artist for a US$6.6 million sculpture.
Achieving the highest sales price for a living artist within a country is predominantly a male domain. Ms Davson is currently the only female holding this title.
She first achieved this ranking in 2011 with her smaller painting 1.22m by 1.52 m (4ft by 5ft) “On The Ark of Salvation” which sold for $1.3 million.
“I am delighted about the sale of “Points of View” -it’s testimony to all those who have believed in my work over the past decades,” Ms Davson said.
“I trust it will also be of encouragement to women artists everywhere that in this 21st century the ‘glass ceiling’ in the arts is finally being shattered.”
“I am also elated that the sales value reflects that art doesn’t need to be confronting or shocking to be considered of high worth. It is time for works that inspire and uplift to have their ‘turn in the sun’,” she said.
Davson’s art is represented in public collections including in the Hikaru Memorial Museum in Takayama, Japan, the Museum & Art Gallery of the Northern Territory in Darwin and 40 public art gallery, city or university collections.
Her art is also represented in two royal collections and over 60 corporate collections in Australia, the USA, Japan and New Zealand.
Boyd Nelson of Whitehead Gupta Lawyers, issued the following statement on behalf of the new owner:
“Macquarie Trustee NZ Ltd is happy to announce its acquisition of the painting “Points of View”.”
“We regard it as a significant work in Davson’s career, as well as an important work in the history of Australian art.”
“Given the comparatively small out-put by this remarkable internationally accredited artist, Macquarie Trustee NZ Ltd regards $5.2 million for ‘Points of View’ as an excellent buy.”
“With much of Davson’s art sold before being created, it is very rare to have the opportunity to acquire such a major early painting by her.”
“It is an opportune investment in this leading female artist’s work. Macquarie Trustees NZ Ltd is very pleased to have procured the painting,” the statement read.
