Emily Kngwarreye's auction results at Sotheby's London

On the 14th of March 2018, Emily Kame Kngwarreye's (c.1910-1996) master work Kame - Summer Awelye II (1991) from the Stefano Spaccapietra Collection, Switzerland sold at the third annual Aboriginal Art auction of Sotheby's London for £309,000GBP. This marks the second highest price ever achieved by the iconic Australian artist.

Painted at Delmore Gallery in the summer of December 1991, the work reflects both the season at the time and Emily's impending ceremonial duties. Emily's country, Alhalkere, and the surrounding semi-arid region had received late spring rains which had resulted in abundant wild flowers. Most importantly, the Kame flower of the atnulare yam was blooming — the plant for which Emily was ceremonially responsible. As the ceremonial time of renewal began in early summer, Emily painted four large scale works, of which the above is the third. The sister work of Kame - Summer Awelye II can be found on pages 70-1, plate 22 of the book Emily Kngwarreye Paintings (1998).¹ The painting is the culmination of a season well tended to according to Emily's responsibilities, and marks the beginning of another cycle of ceremonies to bring fecundity to the land once again.

Image: Emily Kame Kngwarreye, Kame - Summer Awelye II, 1991, 135x300cm. Image copyright of the artist.

1 Isaacs, J. et al., Emily Kngwarreye Paintings, Craftsman House, Sydney, 1998