Auction Preview | Santa Fe Art Auction

Santa Fe, NM
SFAA Showroom, November 14

Gerard Curtis Delano (1890-1972), The Orange Cloud, oil, 32 x 42. Estimate: $500,000-$700,000.

Gerard Curtis Delano (1890-1972), The Orange Cloud, oil, 32 x 42. Estimate: $500,000-$700,000.

This story was featured in the November 2020 issue of Southwest Art magazine. Get the Southwest Art November 2020 print issue or digital download now–then subscribe to Southwest Art and never miss another story.

THE SANTA FE Art Auction’s highly anticipated annual live auction takes place on Saturday, November 14, at its 3,000-square-foot showroom in Santa Fe’s Baca District, with the first session starting at 9 a.m., followed by a second session at 1 p.m. SFAA president Gillian Blitch says the auction house plans to offer in-person bidding within its spacious facility, though the number of attendees is expected to be limited based on New Mexico’s latest safety guidelines. For the first time in its 27-year history, the sale is also being broadcast virtually via live streaming, with online, phone, and absentee bidding options available, as in years past.

While the traditional Friday-evening reception and Sunday-morning brunch won’t be held this year, collectors are invited to preview the sale’s offerings in person starting on Friday, November 6 (appointments are recommended). For those interested in an even earlier peek at the sale, a digital catalog is available on the auction’s website in late October.

The SFAA is widely recognized for bringing western art enthusiasts expertly curated offerings with works by the Taos Society of Artists, the Cowboy Artists of America, sought-after wildlife and sporting artists, and other historic and contemporary western masters. Thus, among the 350 lots on the block this year, collectors can expect to see a substantial mix of western and southwestern art, with works by artists like early 20th-century Taos painters Leon Gaspard and Emil Bisttram as well as present-day maestros such as Martin Grelle. “We are thrilled to have the best Delanos to come to market in a very long time,” says Blitch, pointing to two stunning oil paintings by Gerard Curtis Delano (1890-1972), DE-SERT THUNDERCLOUD and THE ORANGE CLOUD.

Auction goers can also find exceptional examples of American modernism, Native American art, folk art, and American ceramics—specialized markets SFAA has ventured into through its themed, online-only auctions, notes Blitch. “Our live auction epitomizes the diversity of our offerings today. Pottery is a fine example,” she says, referring to two distinguished San Ildefonso Pueblo potters, Maria Martinez (1887-1980) and her son Popovi Da (1923-1971), whose POLYCHROME PLATE is expected to fetch up to $25,000. “We will always have our heart in the Southwest,” adds Blitch, “but our expertise continues to expand.”

For event updates and to browse sale offerings, visit SFAA’s website or check out its live-bidding app available through Invaluable White Label. —Kim Agricola

contact information
505.954.5858
www.santafeartauction.com

This story was featured in the November 2020 issue of Southwest Art magazine. Get the Southwest Art November 2020 print issue or digital download now–then subscribe to Southwest Art and never miss another story.

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