We’ve attended every edition of Esse’s Vendu–Sold auction since 2018, and we’ve purchased at least one work per year. Our choices are guided by the works’ story, presentation, and creative process. We also consider how they will fit into our collection, which is articulated around themes that have emerged over the years: political and social engagement, colours, nature, quirky humour.
With the careful and eclectic group of works offered at the auction, we’ve been able to discover artists –Nadine Faraj, Jérôme Bouchard, and Rebecca Munce. We’ve also acquired works by artists we already knew but who were missing from our collection: Manuel Mathieu, Caroline Mauxion, and Bronson Smilie. The members of the selection committee have the gift of presenting their choices in a way that is stimulating and enriching. Even though the contingencies of the auction mean that some lots inevitably slip through our fingers, these new acquaintances stay with us.
Having a chance to meet the artists at the opening cocktail or during events around the auction adds to the sense of value and attachment that we have for each work. However, knowing that we will help to support a high-quality publication on contemporary art and have a pleasant evening remains our greatest motivation for writing Esse’s Vendu–Sold auction into our agenda year after year.
Image:
Top - Bronson Smillie
Air Mail #3
2023
Vendu–Sold 2024
In their collection:
Sayeh Sarfaraz
Political Memory
2020
Vendu–Sold 2023
Jérôme Bouchard
2115c15p
2020
Vendu–Sold 2022
Nadine Faraj
Les espérances longuement entretenues
2020
Vendu–Sold 2022
Manuel Mathieu
The Promised Land
2019
Vendu–Sold 2019
Caroline Mauxion
Étude pour Une enveloppe sans contours
2017
Vendu–Sold 2018