With the Inuit and Indigenous art auction of major exhibitions and programming updates, art lovers are re-entering the world of gallery shows and auctions this fall. But it’s not just the reopening of the market that excites collectors, but also the opportunity to encounter marvelous pieces that have been hidden away for years and will only be available at this time. This November 18 auction is a case in point with a remarkable selection of 335 extraordinary examples of Inuit and Indigenous sculpture, prints and decorative objects from the collections of Walker’s Fine Arts & Estate Auctions and Waddington’s.
This is the second auction of 2025 First Arts has hosted, and its success demonstrates that the market remains strong. In the last auction in July, ten records were broken for artists including Judas Ullulaq, Kiugak Ashoona, Jessie Oonark, John Pangnark and Kenojuak Ashevak, whose print Enchanted Owl continues to hold the record for the highest price ever paid at auction for a work by an Inuit artist.
Experience the Leading Auction House in Toronto for Luxury and Legacy
In 2015, Inuit artists producing visual arts and crafts for income generated over $33 million in economic activity. This estimate includes their direct economic impact as well as that of their suppliers and retailers. It also includes a small estimate of the indirect economic impact of the retail and wholesale activities that bring Inuit art to market in Ontario through the secondary sales at auction.
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