Is it time for Harold Town to have another moment — with a new generation of collectors?
With a major exhibition at Toronto’s Christopher Cutts Gallery featuring his 1960s abstract paintings already drawing rave reviews, and with a number of highly prominent galleries showing Painters Eleven at Art Toronto this season, it is quite possible that Harold Town will occupy some of the spotlight this season.
Once dubbed the original bad boy of Canadian Art, and Canada’s most famous artist, Town’s genius and boundless creativity brought him fame, critical attention and commercial success, as well as an abundance of notoriety. The market for Town continues to be strong, with great works achieving commensurate prices.
Our October Canadian Art Select auction has something for everyone including, for instance, two iconic and influential single autographic prints from the 1950s (lots 14 and 100 respectively). These prints were a breakthrough for Town and it is on the basis of the strength of these works that he was invited to represent Canada at the Venice Biennale in 1956. For admirers of Town’s later work, please see lot 71 at right, Toy Horse #73, a classic mixed-media work from 1978.
An impressive 130 works comprise this season’s sale which is panoramic in scope. Expect to see contemporary masters such as Edward Burtynsky, Shary Boyle, Wanda Koop, Thrush Holmes and Angela Grossman as well as classic modernism from esteemed artists such as Gershon Iskowitz, Jack Bush, Tom Hodgson, Jean McEwen and William Perehudoff, among many others.
We welcome you to attend the previews on Sunday, October 27, from noon to 4:00 pm and Monday, October 28, 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm EST.
If you are unable to attend, please contact the Canadian Art Department to arrange for private viewing of selective lots.
View the Gallery and Find Out More.