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Art Market Analytics
The most successful 200 individual living and deceased Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists are ranked annually according to secondary market performance indicators. Their Australian Art Market Index (AAMI) Rating is calculated according to a formula devised by Adrian Newstead OAM in consultation with John Furphy of the Australian Art Sales Digest and advice from the arts economist Dr. Jon Stanford.
How is the AAMI Calculated?
An individual artist’s AAMI Rating is calculated yearly and accumulates throughout each year that their works appear for sale. It is based on the total value of all of their artworks sold at public auctions, their clearance (success) rate (the number of artworks sold divided by the number offered), and their average price. Each of these factors is weighted according to the following formula:
AAMI Rating = Success Rate + Profligacy Index + Unit Value
Success Rate = Total Sales ($AUDmillions) x Clearance Rate
Profligacy Index = Number of Works Offered / 100
Unit Value = Average Price / 10,000
Overcoming Anomalies
These arise when artists have too few sales records or they have so many sales over such a long period that their low average prices skew results. For example: Arnhem Land artist Pankalyirri’s one and only work ever offered achieved a result of $94,500, giving him a huge average price and a 100% clearance rate. At the other end of the spectrum several Hermannsburg painters have had up to 800 works offered yet their average prices are well below $500. In order to overcome these distortions and flatten out the results statistically the following adjustments have been made.
In order to overcome these distortions and flatten out the results statistically the following adjustments have been made.To be automatically eligible for inclusion in the top 200 artists:
An artist’s average price must be greater than a threshold. The threshold increases each year, based on the health of the market. This value was around $1000 in 2008 and $1500 in 2015. the number of works offered must be equal to or exceed 20
The AAMI rating for artists with less than a minimum of 20 works offered is adjusted by a factor equal to the total number of works offered divided by 20. Similarly if the average price is lower than the threshold, it also is adjusted by a factor equal to the average price divided by the threshold, thus a gradual rise towards parity.
Due to the increase in the average price threshold each year an artist’s cumulative result may actually decrease. In these very rare cases, an artist’s AIAM rating may be negative during that year.
Market Performance for Top 100 Artists
Emily Kame Kngwarreye (1909 - 1996) AAMI Ranking: #1
Rover Thomas (Julama) (1926 - 1998) AAMI Ranking: #2
Lin Onus (1948 - 1996) AAMI Ranking: #3
Albert Namatjira (1902 - 1959) AAMI Ranking: #4
Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri (1933 - 2002) AAMI Ranking: #5
Paddy Nyunkuny Bedford (1922 - 2007) AAMI Ranking: #6
Johnny Warangkula Tjupurrula (1925 - 2001) AAMI Ranking: #7
Mick Namarari Tjapaltjarri (1926 - 1998) AAMI Ranking: #8
Ronnie Tjampitjinpa (1943 - 2023) AAMI Ranking: #9
Tracey Moffatt (1960) AAMI Ranking: #10
Maggie Watson Napangardi (1924 - 2004) AAMI Ranking: #11
Turkey Tolson Tjupurrula (1938 - 2001) AAMI Ranking: #12
Yannima Tommy Watson (1935 - 2017) AAMI Ranking: #13
Dorothy Robinson Napangardi (1956 - 2013) AAMI Ranking: #14
Minnie Pwerle (1922 - 2006) AAMI Ranking: #15
Queenie McKenzie (Nakarra) (1930 - 1998) AAMI Ranking: #16
Ginger Riley Munduwalawala (1939 - 2002) AAMI Ranking: #17
Gloria Tamerre Petyarre (1945 - 2021) AAMI Ranking: #18
Kathleen Petyarre (1935 - 2018) AAMI Ranking: #19
John Mawurndjul (1951) AAMI Ranking: #20
Naata Nungurrayi (1932 - 2021) AAMI Ranking: #21
Makinti Napanangka (1930 - 2011) AAMI Ranking: #22
Eubena Nampitjin (1924 - 2013) AAMI Ranking: #23
Freddie Timms (1944 - 2017) AAMI Ranking: #24
Sally (Mirdidingkingathi Juwarnda) Gabori (1924 - 2015) AAMI Ranking: #25
Kaapa Mbitjana Tjampitjinpa (1926 - 1989) AAMI Ranking: #26
George (Hairbrush) Tjungurrayi (c.1943) AAMI Ranking: #27
Uta Uta Tjangala (c. 1926 - 1990) AAMI Ranking: #28
Ningura Gibson Napurrula (1938 - 2013) AAMI Ranking: #29
Judy Napangardi Watson (1925 - 2016) AAMI Ranking: #30
Kitty Kantilla (1928 - 2003) AAMI Ranking: #31
Anatjari Tjakamarra No. I (1938 - 1992) AAMI Ranking: #32
Bill Tjapaltjarri Whiskey (1920 - 2008) AAMI Ranking: #33
David Yirawala (1903 - 1976) AAMI Ranking: #34
Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri (c. 1950) AAMI Ranking: #35
Tim Leura Tjapaltjarri (c. 1934 - 1984) AAMI Ranking: #36
Jack Britten (1921 - 2002) AAMI Ranking: #37
Paddy (Jampin) Jaminji (1912 - 1996) AAMI Ranking: #38
Willie Tjungurrayi (c. 1932 - 2018) AAMI Ranking: #39
Otto Pareroultja (1914 - 1993) AAMI Ranking: #40
Long Jack Phillipus Tjakamarra (1932 - 2020) AAMI Ranking: #41
Walangkura Napanangka (c. 1946 - 2014) AAMI Ranking: #42
Charlie Tjaruru Tjungurrayi (c. 1925 - 1999) AAMI Ranking: #43
Charlie Numbulmoore (1907 - 1971) AAMI Ranking: #44
Tjumpo Tjapanangka (1929 - 2007) AAMI Ranking: #45
William (King Billy) Barak (1824 - 1903) AAMI Ranking: #46
Lily Kelly Napangardi (c. 1948) AAMI Ranking: #47
Shorty Lungkarda Tjungurrayi (1914 - 1987) AAMI Ranking: #48
Prince of Wales (1938 - 2002) AAMI Ranking: #49
Gabriella Possum Nungurrayi (1967) AAMI Ranking: #50
Brook Andrew (1970) AAMI Ranking: #51
Alec Mingelmanganu (1905 - 1981) AAMI Ranking: #54
Tommy McRae (c. 1830 - 1901) AAMI Ranking: #52
Boxer Milner Tjampitjin (1935 - 2009) AAMI Ranking: #53
Billy Stockman Tjapaltjarri (1927 - 2015) AAMI Ranking: #55
Yala Yala Gibbs Tjungurrayi (1924 - 1998) AAMI Ranking: #56
Elizabeth Nyumi Nungurrayi (c. 1947 - 2019) AAMI Ranking: #57
Wimmitji Tjapangati (c. 1924 - 1997) AAMI Ranking: #58
Timmy Payungka Tjapangati (c. 1935 - 2000) AAMI Ranking: #59
Daniel Walbidi (1982) AAMI Ranking: #60
Wattie Karruwara (c. 1910 - 1983) AAMI Ranking: #61
Michael Nelson Tjakamarra (1945 - 2020) AAMI Ranking: #62
Trevor Nickolls (1949 - 2012) AAMI Ranking: #63
Lofty Nabardayal Nadjamerrek (1926 - 2009) AAMI Ranking: #64
Ian W. Abdulla (1947 - 2011) AAMI Ranking: #65
Lorna Fencer Napurrurla (1920 - 2006) AAMI Ranking: #66
Kudditji Kngwarreye (1928 - 2017) AAMI Ranking: #67
Rosella Namok (1979) AAMI Ranking: #68
Jarinyanu David Downs (c. 1925 - 1995) AAMI Ranking: #69
Mawalan Marika (c. 1908 - 1967) AAMI Ranking: #70
Regina Pilawuk Wilson (1948) AAMI Ranking: #71
Rammey Ramsey (1939) AAMI Ranking: #72
Mick Kubarrku (1922) AAMI Ranking: #73
Patrick Oloodoodi Tjungurrayi (c. 1935) AAMI Ranking: #74
Joseph Jurra Tjapaltjarri (1952) AAMI Ranking: #75
Nyurapaiya Nampijinpa (Mrs. Bennett) (c. 1935) AAMI Ranking: #76
Abie Loy Kemerre (1974) AAMI Ranking: #77
Billy Joongarra Thomas (1920 - 2012) AAMI Ranking: #78
Sunfly Tjampitjin (1916 - 1996) AAMI Ranking: #79
Barbara Weir (1945 - 2023) AAMI Ranking: #80
Ewald Namatjira (1930 - 1984) AAMI Ranking: #81
Old Walter Tjampitjinpa (c. 1912 - 1981) AAMI Ranking: #86
Dick Roughsey (Goobalatheldin) (1924 - 1985) AAMI Ranking: #82
Janangoo Butcher Cherel (1920 - 2009) AAMI Ranking: #83
Gloria Fletcher Thancoupie (1937 - 2011) AAMI Ranking: #84
Mitjili Napurrula (c. 1945 - 2019) AAMI Ranking: #85
Angelina Ngale Pwerle (c. 1947) AAMI Ranking: #87
Hector Jandany (1929 - 2007) AAMI Ranking: #88
David Daymirringu Malangi (1927 - 1999) AAMI Ranking: #89
Robert Campbell Junior (1944 - 1993) AAMI Ranking: #97
Tommy Lowry Tjapaltjarri (1935 - 1987) AAMI Ranking: #90
Jan Billycan (1930 - 2016) AAMI Ranking: #91
Walter Ebatarinja (1915 - 1968) AAMI Ranking: #92
Jack Dale Mengenen (1922 - 2013) AAMI Ranking: #93
Paddy Fordham Wainbarranga (1941 - 2006) AAMI Ranking: #94
Lily Karadada (c. 1937) AAMI Ranking: #95
Polly Nelson Ngale (c. 1940 - 2022) AAMI Ranking: #96
Bobby Barrdjaray Nganjmirra (1915 - 1992) AAMI Ranking: #98
John Kipara Tjakamarra (1932 - 2002) AAMI Ranking: #99

Owen Yalandja (1962) AAMI Ranking: #100