Art + Object have released some interesting numbers showing the top ten prices paid for art at auction since the early eighties. Colin McCahon takes the number one and number two spots followed by C F Goldie at three and four. McCahon then comes back at five and six while C F claims places eight and nine. Sandwiched between the price titans are Frances Hodgkins in position seven and then Gordon Walters sneaks in at spot ten. Art + Object shares the full list based on Australian Art Sales Digest here.
But hang on. Who fronted up with the most cash for acrerage? Now that is a different list altogether. Here's prices paid per square millimetre in descending order.
$7.12 Colin McCahon I considered all the acts of oppression
$3.17 Colin McCahon Let be, let be
$2.67 Gordon Walters Tirangi II
$1.60 Colin McCahon No 2
$1.04 Frances Hodgkins Still life with landscape
$0.92 Colin McCahon He calls for Elias
And then come the Goldies at $0.70, $0.51, $0.33 and $0.29 a pop.
Contemporary art: putting its money where its mouth is.
