The Contemporary Art Auction | The Auction Barn

Introduction

We are establishing a new Contemporary Art Auction showcasing work by contemporary artists from Canberra and the surrounding regions. The auction is designed as an avenue for practicing artists to reach new audiences, including an increasing number of collectors located interstate. We are calling for expressions of interest from artists to participate in our first auction, beginning in November 2022.

Over the past two years The Auction Barn has seen its online business explode! We have developed a calendar of specialist auctions including Australian and International Fine Art, Fine Decorative Arts, Fine Antiques, and many others. All auctions are conducted online, supported by in-house research, photographic, installation, financial, and shipping teams. Catalogues are available online, and items in each auction can also be viewed in our showrooms. We are confident we have a platform which will assist artists to reach new audiences, while managing for them the work of promotion, sales, and shipping.

After a difficult couple of years for artists, we envisage the Contemporary Art Auction offers an opportunity to present for sale either new works or those from a back catalogue, and to engage, or re-engage with prospective collectors. We will work with artists to help identify and present work which best matches our in-depth understanding of our audiences. We believe that we offer a complimentary approach to existing sales venues including galleries in artist-run spaces and commercial galleries.

We invite EOI submissions through the web form below; information is provided in the Guide for Artists. Enquires can be directed to our Fine Art Department [email protected].

Guide for Artists

Here is some information to assist you to prepare an EOI to place your work for sale at auction through The Auction Barn.

General information

We request some general information including contact details so we can contact you to discuss your EOI and work. We also encourage artists with pre-existing gallery representation in the Canberra region to discuss this opportunity with the gallery prior to submitting an EOI. All artwork placed at auction must be the sole work of the submitting artist. If you are part of a group interested in submitting work that is a collaborative effort, please contact the Fine Art Department to discuss [email protected].

Portfolio

Collectors will look to see how the work placed at auction fits within your portfolio and practice, so we ask for links to an up-to-date portfolio, images of works in progress, exhibition documentation and other context. Examples include a website or Instagram, or other platforms which support high quality images.

Sample Works

We need an idea of the type of work you propose to sell through the Contemporary Art Auction, so we ask for a sample of five high resolution (300 dpi) images of available works. These need to be complete and ready to install. Prints, paintings and other 2D work should be ready to hang – for example, prints and drawings should be framed, and paintings, if not framed, should be stretched and with fixings to allow hanging. Sculpture and other 3D works should have necessary fittings for secure installation, if required.

Exhibition Experience and Artist Statement

Along with your portfolio, collectors draw on an artist’s exhibition participation, inclusion in a variety of collections, critical reviews, and other activities to inform their valuation of the work at auction. We will provide these, along with an artist statement, as part of the catalogue. If your work is selected for auction we will work with you to ensure your artist statement captures your motivations and practice in a way that captures the audience’s attention.

The Contemporary Art Auction is a curated auction, shaped by our understanding of the collectors with whom we work. As a result, not all works proposed for this auction will be selected. When considering works for your EOI, keep in mind factors such as scale, stability, subject, and medium. We request this information about each of the sample works to aid our selection process. At this stage we envision selecting works by up to six artists in an auction catalogue. We request you propose a reserve for each sample work to give us some guidance to your thinking. We will discuss valuations and reserves in more detail once we have made an initial selection for the catalogue.

Promotion & Communications

Engaging the audience in the lead up, and during the auction is vital and we’re keen to create opportunities for artists to talk about their work, such as in short interviews we can share on a variety of platforms, as well as pieces for print media and radio. The pieces will add to other promotional material we release for the auction.

Practical Considerations

Artists consigning work for sale in The Contemporary Art Auction will be bound by the terms and conditions of all vendors at The Auction Barn. Please read the Seller’s Guide before submitting an EOI https://www.theauctionbarn.com.au/buy-sell/seller-s-guide . As storage at The Auction Barn is limited, it is important that artwork is delivered in a dedicated window prior to auction, and is collected promptly if unsold.