New Auction Records Set for Mary Pratt and Takao Tanabe at Heffel’s Spring Sales in Toronto
The spring sales at Heffel Fine Art Auction House in Toronto and Vancouver were a huge success, with a total of C$22.6m ($16.5m) and a 96% sell-through rate. The event felt like a hockey game, with patrons cheering on the artworks as if they were the Maple Leafs or Canucks competing for the Stanley Cup. The highlight of the sales was Jean Paul Riopelle’s drip canvas “Verts ombreuses” from 1949, which sold for C$2.7m ($2m). The collection of Torben V. Kristiansen brought in around C$9.1m ($6.6m), with notable pieces by Tom Thomson and Lawren Harris. Emily Carr and A.J. Casson also had standout pieces that exceeded expectations. The post-war and contemporary art session featured prized Riopelle oil compositions, including one from 1954 that sold for C$1.3m ($965,000). Takao Tanabe’s seascape painting “Nootka 1/91: in Hanna Channel” set a record at C$451,250 ($329,000). Mary Pratt’s “Girl in My Dressing Gown” and Andy Warhol’s prints of Marilyn Monroe and Mick Jagger also sold well.
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Cillian O’Rourke, studied at the National College of Art and Design in Dublin, Ireland, where he majored in Visual Communication. His work spans graphic design, illustration, and branding, with a distinct minimalist style that emphasizes simplicity and impact. Cillian has collaborated with international brands and runs his own design studio focusing on creative solutions for startups.