Australian & International Art

Overview

Consistently achieving market-leading results, Smith & Singer is the premier art business in Australia. 

Smith & Singer specialises in realising exceptional results for our consignors from highly-curated, dedicated auctions of the best examples of Australian and international art available on the market.  This approach means we sell more of the works entrusted to us, for a greater price than any auction house in Australia.  Our specialists' Australian and international experience uniquely positions Smith & Singer in the market, allowing us to advise each our clients as to the best strategy for the sale of their work.

Our April 2021 auction of Australian and international art set records by achieving the highest total from the smallest number of lots in the company’s history (as both Smith & Singer and formerly Sotheby’s Australia) – $11,965,909 from just 57 works.  Two prices in excess of $1 million were achieved, with six works setting new auction records.  Bidding from clients in the saleroom, on telephones, and online resulted in a sold rate of 93.44% by volume and 144.22% by value, showing the depth of demand in the sale.  The figure augments the outstanding private sale and international consignments we have achieved in the first quarter of 2021.

In 2020, for the fifth consecutive year, Smith & Singer realised the highest annual total in Australia and the second highest auction and annual totals for fine art in the company’s auspicious history, with a combined annual total surpassing $48.42 million.  Leading the public auction total at the company was the trio of Important Australian & International Art auctions held in Sydney in June, September and November which realised a combined total of $21.3 million.  These highly-curated auctions presented an array of historic, modern and contemporary art and realised numerous records for both artist and medium, while also setting the highest sold rates and performances against estimates in a decade at the company, when our September auction saw rates of 149.43% sold by value and 87% sold by volume.  Overall these auctions realised 122% of their combined estimates and saw 84% of all lots sold.

In 1973, Sotheby's Australia commenced auctions in Australian & International Art with the single-owner sale of Paintings and Drawings from the Studio of Sir William Dobell.  Since this landmark auction, the company – now trading as Smith & Singer – has offered the finest Australian paintings, sculptures and works on paper from colonial through to contemporary.  In May 2007, John Bracks’ masterpiece, The Old Time  1969, for $3.36 million, set the world record for any Australian work of art ever sold at auction at the time.  In 2016, a record setting $2,074,000 was realised for Arthur Streeton's Sydney Harbour 1907, the highest Australian art auction result for that year.  In 2019, records were realised across categories for great Australian artists, including Ethel Carrick and William Dobell amongst others.

Smith & Singer specialists are internationally recognised, whose tenure and experience are unmatched by those at any other firm and includes former museum curators and dealers. Our specialists work in tandem with our former Sotheby's colleagues around the world to source the most compelling works for our high-profile auctions and deliver exceptional returns to consignors.  Their efforts and passion have attracted buyers from Australia and abroad to our recent sales, resulting in record prices and historic sales.

Sales of Australian & International Art typically include masterworks by artists such as Howard Arkley, Arthur Boyd, Charles Blackman, John Brack, David Larwill, Sidney Nolan, Margaret Olley, John Olsen, Jeffrey Smart, Arthur Streeton, Brett Whiteley and Fred Williams.  Important Australian & International Art sales are usually held in May, August and November in either Sydney or Melbourne.

The team of specialists based in Melbourne and Sydney share an extensive expertise and a broad access to collectors and buyers worldwide. We can help you sell Australian art, as well as international pieces, with our in-depth knowledge of artists, their works, and the local and international art market.

Recent Results from Australian Art Auctions

Important Australian & International Art 20 April 2021 
https://www.smithandsinger.com.au/catalogue/AU0849

Important Australian & International Art 18 November 2020 
https://www.smithandsinger.com.au/catalogue/AU0847

Important Australian & International Art 2 September 2020 
https://www.smithandsinger.com.au/catalogue/AU0845

Important Australian & International Art 24 June 2020
https://www.smithandsinger.com.au/catalogue/AU0844 

Important Australian Art 20 November 2019

https://www.smithandsinger.com.au/catalogue/AU0840 

Important Australian Art 27 August 2019
https://www.smithandsinger.com.au/catalogue/AU0837

Important Australian & International Art 9 April 2019
https://www.smithandsinger.com.au/catalogue/AU0833

Important Australian & International Art from The John Symond AM Collection | Important Australian Art 20 November 2018
www.smithandsinger.com.au/catalogue/AU0830

Important Australian Art 28 August 2018
www.smithandsinger.com.au/catalogue/AU0828

Important Australian & New Zealand Art | Important Australian Art from The J.G.L. Collection 16 May 2018
www.smithandsinger.com.au/catalogue/AU0825

Important Art from The John Schaeffer AO Collection 29 April 2018
www.smithandsinger.com.au/catalogue/AU0824

To view results from all past auctions visit
www.smithandsinger.com.au/auction/results

For further information
contact@smithandsinger.com.au 
Melbourne +61 (0)3 9508 9900  |  Sydney +61 (0)2 9302 2402

Specialists
	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 Chief Executive Officer & Director Australian & International Art Melbourne  |  Sydney T: +61 (0)3 9508 9900 T: +61 (0)2 9302 2402 E: Gary Singer
	Brett Ballard Senior Specialist Australian & International Art Sydney  T: +61 (0)2 9302 2402  E: Brett Ballard