ABOVE: Detail from Emu Corroboree Man (1972) by Australian Aboriginal artist Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri. The work fetched a record price in Melbourne in late July.

We so often neglect Australia, The Littlest Continent. Aside from churning out hollywood movie stars, it seems to keep to itself most of the time. So it came as news to us that Australian Aboriginal art is doing huge business there, with many artists seeing their auction prices higher than they’ve ever been. Exhibit A (actually, the only exhibit today): A July 25 Sotheby’s sale of Aboriginal art in Melbourne moved a total of AU$4.8 million worth of work. The National Indigenous Times reports that there was something of a bidding war for two pieces by Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri, Emu Corroboree Man, above, and Man’s Love Story, and the artist hit a new personal best, price-wise. Emu’s initial price ceiling was AU$250,000, but in the end it sold for AU$411,750, which Mr. Tjapaltjarri would presumably be overjoyed at, if only he hadn’t died in 2002. Timing.

The Nat’l Indigenous Time’s story also quotes Jon Dwyer, director of painting for Christie’s Australia, as saying that “Aboriginal artwork is the fastest growing artwork in the world,” noting that Christie’s will be holding its own auction of Aboriginal art on August 30 for which expectations are high. So this Dwyer fellow is, like, totally impartial and has no vested interest in generating hype. You can believe him.

LINK: National Indigenous Times > Record Sales in Aboriginal Art