MITJILI NAPURRULA

Mitjili’s record price at auction was achieved in November 2004, when a large three-metre canvas originally commissioned by Mason Gallery in Darwin sold for $26,400. Entitled Uwalki: Watiya Tjuta, 2004, it had justified the $25,000 - 30,000 presale estimate placed on it by Lawson~Menzies specialists.

Interestingly, not one single work in the artist’s top ten results has been achieved by market leader Sotheby’s. In fact, Sotheby’s have offered only two minor works, which both failed to find a buyer. This is doubtless due to the fact that since the mid-1990s Mitjili has increasingly painted for dealers outside of art centre patronage. Mitjili’s results at auction are dominated by small and minor works and this has resulted in an average price at auction of just $2,475 for works on canvas and $873 for works on paper. In 2015 for instance, no less than 17 works appeared for sale at public auction, and although 13 of these sold, the highest price achieved was only $1200.

Nevertheless, due principally to the large number of works that have appeared at auction since she began painting, Mitjili’s Aboriginal Art Market Rating ranks her amongst the top 100 living artists. Her works are generally bold, with a strong decorative design appeal. Collectors should seek out good works, with a preference for larger pieces with a strong contemporary aesthetic. These should continue to satisfy and find a ready market when offered for resale in the future.

© Adrian Newstead