Two major collections of contemporary art will be offered at The Art & Design Sale on 26th May here at Cheffins. By some of the most avant-garde artists of the past decade, these works have been consigned from two private collections.
The first, from the collection of the late Thomas Guy Voyce, comprises of 17 items in total. Mr Voyce lived in Covent Garden and split his time between the UK and the USA. The works in this collection are connected by an inventive and illusory use of material, and the majority come with relatively affordable price tags.
Lot 153 - Crease Constellations #3 by Kevin Box, estimate £200 - £400
One of the highlights of the collection is a three-dimensional trompe de l’oeil by American contemporary artist, Joseph Somers. Titled ‘Library’ the piece demonstrates the influence of artists such as M.C. Escher and Salvador Dali and has an estimate of £300 - £500. Also on offer is a work titled ‘Crease Constellations #3’ by Kevin Box, dated 2012. Designed to look like a sheet of creased paper, this painted cast aluminium wall plaque, numbered 1/24, carries an estimate of £300 - £400.
Lot 452 - Peecheep by GL Brierley, estimate £700 - £1,000
Also on offer will be a collection of 14 works owned by a prominent figure in the contemporary art world, based in Northwest London. These include both sculptural and flat items, with a number of significant pieces on offer. One of the highlights is an oil painting by London-based contemporary artist, G. L Brierley. Titled ‘Peecheep’ and dated 2010, this grotesque, yet bewitching, oil has an estimate of £700 - £1000. Following this is a bronze and mixed media bust of a man, by the popular contemporary artist Charles Avery, dated 2010 and titled ‘Status Quo’ which has an estimate of £800 - £1,200.
My personal favourite, and an unusual piece, is a wax model of a ‘spaceship nose’ with a four-storey diorama in the interior, by Georgian-born artist, Andro Semeiko, which has an estimate of £200 - £400.
Lot 150 - Spaceship Nose by Andro Semeiko, estimate £200 - £400
We have seen that the market for contemporary art at regional auction houses is starting to gather momentum. Whilst headline sales of works by some of the most famous names in the genre consistently hit headlines, there is healthy, burgeoning demand for up-and-coming contemporary artists. Names to look out for at auction currently are the likes of Cornelia Parker, Charles Avery and Paul McPhail, which are currently seeing rising values. Recent sales at Cheffins of works by the likes of David Shrigley and Rachel Whiteread have gone to show how there is a younger set of buyers, looking to start off collections which are really drawn to contemporary art.
The Art & Design Sale will take place on Thursday 26th May, to view the catalogue, please click here.