Smith & Singer

Important Australian Art - Catalogue Announcement

November 6, 2023

IMPORTANT AUSTRALIAN ART

The digital catalogue for the upcoming Important Australian Art auction at Smith & Singer is now available to view online.

Among the highlights of the sale is Howard Arkley’s spectacular Shadow Factories 1991 (lot 12, estimate $800,000–1,000,000, pictured above).

Shadow Factories, a work of complexity and exuberance, bursts with a disruptive profusion of colours, shapes, patterns and textures.  One can sense Arkley’s delight in selecting and collaging from magazine cuttings and interior design swatches that were then photocopied, projected onto the canvas, and meticulously coloured, undergoing their own construction and transformation.

One of only seven major compositions on the cityscape theme in Arkley’s remarkable oeuvre – all of which are tightly held in private collections – the present Shadow Factories forms the last in the sequence.  Offered for the first time for public sale, Shadow Factories remains a composition of enduring appeal that represents a defining moment within the history and development of twentieth century Australian art.

The exhibition will take place in Melbourne from Wednesday 8 November – Sunday 12 November, 10 am to 5 pm at 14-16 Collins Street, and in Sydney from Thursday 16 November – Tuesday 21 November, 10 am to 5 pm at 30 Queen Street, Woollahra.

The auction will be held at the National Council of Jewish Women of Australia, 111 Queen Street, Woollahra at 6.30 pm on 21 November 2023.

  EXPLORE SALE  

For more information, please contact:

Geoffrey Smith
Chairman
+61 (0)418 889 656 
[email protected]


Emily Walker 
Administrator, Art
+61 (0)3 9508 9900
[email protected]

Gary Singer 
Chief Executive Officer & Director
+61 (0)418 337 788 
[email protected]


David Mackay 
Gallery Manager, Sydney   
+61 (0)2 9302 2402
[email protected] 

   
Pictured above 
HOWARD ARKLEY 1951-1999   
Shadow Factories 1991 
synthetic polymer paint on canvas
175.5 x 135.5 cm
Estimate $800,000–1,000,000  
© The Estate of Howard Arkley/Licensed by Kalli Rolfe Contemporary Art 

VIEW LOT

 

 

CONTACT INFORMATION +

Specialists

Geoffrey Smith

Geoffrey Smith

Chairman

Australian & International Art 
Melbourne  |  Sydney 
T: +61 (0)3 9508 9900 
T: +61 (0)2 9302 2402 
E: Geoffrey Smith
Gary Singer

Gary Singer

Chief Executive Officer & Director

Australian & International Art 
Melbourne  |  Sydney 
T: +61 (0)3 9508 9900 
T: +61 (0)2 9302 2402 
E: Gary Singer
       
Emily Walker

Emily Walker

Administrator

Australian & International Art 
Melbourne 
T: +61 (0)3 9508 9900 
E: Emily Walker
David Mackay

David Mackay

Gallery Manager

Sydney 
T: +61 (0)2 9302 2402 
E: David Mackay

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