Sep 2, 2026 – 3.52pmWomen artists rode to the rescue of the mid-year auction market, delivering strong results in Melbourne after an underwhelming two nights in Sydney, causing one insider to remark that maybe we were watching “a tale of two cities” unfold.Saleroom reported last week that the winter auction season had begun in Sydney with Smith & Singer taking 97 lots of Australian and international art to market on August 25, and Bonhams offering 94 lots the day before. We reported that Smith & Singer’s auction cleared $8,403,750, making it the lowest-grossing August sale by the auction house in years.Subscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber? Fetching latest articles
Women artists outperform as winter auctions become tale of two cities
Melbourne sales brought better news after an underwhelming start to the winter season - in which one work sold for $265,000 less than what was bid during the auction.
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