The Laverty Collection has broken Bonhams auction records, making it the most successful contemporary art sale held in Australia. The auction, which took place at the Foundation Hall of the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney, totaled $5.05 million.
Within a half hour from the start of the auction, the first new artist record was set and greeted with applause. Peter Upwards’ October Still, sold for $136,620, more than three times its lower estimate. Other notable auction records were Paji Honeychild Yankarr’s Jila Japirnka, which sold for $47,196 beating its previous record of $7800, and Jan Billycan’s Kirriwirri, selling for $99,360 and beating its previous record of $19,200.
