Aboriginal Art Market - Top Aboriginal Artists
Australian Indigenous Artists Ranked According to Highest Selling Price for a
Single Artwork
Warning. This article contains the names and images of Aboriginal and Islander
people now deceased. It also contains links to sites that may use images of
Aboriginal and Islander people now deceased.
* These Australian Indigenous
artists are ranked according to highest selling price for a single artwork,
whether paintings or sculptures. Date: 16 March, 2008
Rank |
Name of Artist |
Living or Deceased |
Highest Sale
Price (Au$) |
Title of Work |
Year Sold |
Year Created |
Location |
Notes |
| 1 |
Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri |
D 1932-2002 |
$2.4M |
"Warlugulong" |
2007 |
1977 |
Papunya Tula |
2 others sold for $411,750 each |
| 2 |
Emily Kame Kngwarreye |
D 1910-1996 |
$1.056M |
"Earth's Creation" |
2007 |
1995 |
Utopia |
"Spring Celebration" (1991) sold for
$463,000 in 2003 |
| 3 |
Rover Thomas |
D 1926-1998 |
$778,750 |
"All That Big Rain Coming Down Top Side" |
2001 |
1991 |
Kimberley (born in Great Sandy Desert in WA) |
4 others sold for over $350,000 each |
| 4 |
Johnny Warangkula Tjupurrula |
D 1925-2001 |
$486,500 |
"Water Dreaming at Kalipinypa" |
2001 |
1972 |
Papunya Tula |
Details at Jinta Art Website. |
| 5 |
William McLintock Onus
(Lin Onus) |
D 1948-1996 |
$396,000 |
"Water Lilies and Evening Reflections, Dingo Springs" |
2006 |
1996 |
Melbourne |
Aboriginal father
/Scottish mother |
| 6 |
Billy Stockman Japaltjarri |
L 1925- |
$201,500 |
"Wild Potato (Yala) Dreaming" |
1998 |
1971 |
Papunya Tula |
Details at Jinta Art Website. |
| 7 |
Dennis Nona |
L 1973- |
$85,000 |
"Apu Kaz - Mother and Baby Dugong" - Bronze Sculpture |
2007 |
2005 |
Badu Island, Torres Strait |
This sculpture was created in Brisbane. |
| 8 |
Jack Britten |
D 1925-2002 |
$82,750 |
"Purnu Lulu, tha Bungle Bungles" |
2005 |
1989 |
Kimberley |
Details at Lawson's Online |
| 9 |
Minnie Pwerle |
D 1922-2006 |
$78,000 |
"Awelye Atnwengerrp" |
2007 |
2002 |
Utopia |
Details at Lawson's Online |
| 10 |
John Mawurndjul |
L 1952- |
$78,000 |
"Ancestors at Milmilingkan C." |
2007 |
1994 |
Maningrida, NT |
Details at JoelFineArt.com |
| 11 |
Makiniti Napanangka
|
L 1930- |
$72,000 |
"Lupulnga" |
2006 |
2006 |
Papunya Tula |
Details at Lawson's Online |
| 12 |
Tim Leura Tjapaltjarri |
D 1939-1981 |
$50,000 |
"Honey Art Story" |
2007 |
1972 |
Papunya Tula |
Details at JoelFineArt.com - another work sold for $34,000 in 2007 |
| 13 |
Turkey Tolson Tjupurrula |
D 1938-2001 |
$47,700 |
"Straightening of the Spears at Ilyingaugau" |
2002 |
1996 |
Papunya Tula |
Christie's Auction in Melbourne |
| 14 |
Mick Namarari Japaltjarri |
D 1926-1997 |
$38,160 |
"Marsupial Mouse Dreaming" |
2002 |
1996 |
Papunya Tula (Kintore) |
Christie's Auction |
| 15 |
Gloria Petyarre |
L 1945- |
$34,575 |
"Leaves" |
2004 |
1998 |
Utopia |
Details at Jinta Art Website.
- "Post Summer Abundance" sold for $32,250 in 2002 at a Christie's Auction in Melbourne |
| 16 |
Ronnie Tjampitjinpa |
L 1943- |
$32,000 |
"Kaakutatiutja (Lake MacDonald)" |
2007 |
1996 |
Papunya Tula (Kintore) |
Details at JoelFineArt.com |
| 17 |
Eunice Napangardi |
L late 1940s- |
$29,325 |
"Uparli
Dreaming (Bush Banana)" |
2000 |
1991 |
Papunya Tula |
Details at Jinta Art Website. |
| 18 |
Ada Bird Petyarre |
L 1930- |
$27,600 |
"Atnangkere
(Awelye)" |
1999 |
1990 |
Utopia |
Details at Lawson's Online |
Top Aboriginal Artists
