A stronger than expected sales has elevated the attractiveness of Aboriginal art in International art markets. The debut auction at Sotheby New York in fall 2019 features the work of well known names : Emily Kane Kngwarreye, Gordon Bennett, Ronnie Tjampitjinpa. Eight new artist auction records were set with 29 out of 33 lots sold.


The surprisingly good results will propel more sales and activity in this category as collectors are eager to unearth new gems with potential gains not yet fully realized. The category remain affordable and there may be room for further price appreciation..Despite Aboriginal art unshakable position in the history of Australian art, it has never been as widely collected internationally compared to categories like Old Masters, Impressionist & Modern art, Post War & Contemporary art etc. Prospects are brighter now with the success of this sale and an earlier sale by Gagosian of Indigenous Australian painting five months earlier.  ⬩

Culturally important to the people of Japan and popular in many parts of the world, Manga is staking its position in the art world. A Paris auction has sold an original Astro Boy drawing by Osamu Tezuka for about $320,000 as reported by NHK. Only one set of drawing are created for each manga and their value are more appreciated now than before, partly due to the rise of contemporary art and the entry of street art as a genre for collecting. That many contemporary artists has appropriated celebrated characters like Astro Boy add to the allure of this much celebrated series.


Recent museums show in Japan and abroad has cast the spotlight on Manga as an art form (essentially drawings using ink and pen) and its penetrating presence in the daily lives of people. This will further enhance the appeal and value of collecting original manga drawings among niche collectors. It will be interesting to watch the growth of these two categories, Aboriginal art and Manga and whether they will be a mainstay in the art market long term. ⬩