OTTAWA.- Walker's Fine Art & Estate Auctions' Inuit and First Nations Live Art Auction realized phenomenal results with CAD$1.4 million in total sales, and overall sell-through rates of 103% of the low estimate by value. Comprising 333 lots of Native Canadian and American sculpture, prints, drawings, textile arts, and decorative objects spanning some two thousand years, Walker's November 18 sale attracted hundreds of bidders from across North America and Europe.

Jeff Walker, owner of Walker's, commented: "I'm pleased that Walker's is now firmly established as the market leader in Inuit art. This was an exceptionally strong auction for Walker's both in the quality of material presented and in the enthusiastic response not only from seasoned collectors, but also many first-time clients. In this sale, prices doubled estimates for works by Kenojuak Ashevak, Osuitok Ipeelee, Jessie Oonark, Pauta Saila, and trebled for works by John Tiktak, Lionel Samuels, Judas Ullulaq, to mention only a few."

Auction records were surpassed and in many cases smashed for works by Ashevak, Oonark, Andy Miki, Luke Anguhadluq and many other key artists.

Ingo Hessel, Head of the Inuit & First Nations Art Department at Walker's, commented: "It's thrilling to see renewed vigor in the Inuit art market. Superb works gathered from the best collections - sculptures, textiles, and graphic works by critically acclaimed Inuit artists, both male and female, from both the classic and contemporary periods - are garnering richly-deserved appreciation and very strong bidding. We are committed to ensuring that the very best Inuit art will continue to attract attention worldwide among discerning and savvy collectors."

Noteworthy sales are as follows:

Graphic works:
• Kenojuak Ashevak, Rabbit Eating Seaweed, 1959, (her first print from the very first Cape Dorset graphics collection, pictured above), sold for CAD$59,000, surpassing the previous auction record for this most famous of Inuit artists

• Osuitok Ipeelee, Four Muskoxen, a classic 1959 print, sold for CAD$17,700 (a new auction record)

• Jessie Oonark, Big Woman, an iconic 1974 print, sold for CAD$11,800

• Luke Anguhadluq, Drum Dance, a rare 1972 print, sold for CAD$20,060 (a new artist record)

Sculpture:
• John Tiktak, Head, a small and superb 1965 work, sold for CAD$47,200

• Karoo Ashevak, Spirit Figure, 1971-72, sold for CAD$42,350

• Andy Miki, Animal Figure, a magnificent abstract work from 1973, sold for CAD$38,350 (a new artist record)

• Josiah Nuilaalik, Wolf-Wasp Transformation, a stunning 1996 work, sold for CAD$32,450 (a new artist record)

• Pauta Saila, Dancing Bear, a dynamic work from 1975, sold for CAD$29,500

• Osuitok Ipeelee, Caribou, an elegant 1990 work, sold for CAD$26,550

• Miriam Nanurluk Qiyuk, Family, a classic 1970s sculpture, sold for CAD$20,060

Textile works:
• Jessie Oonark, Untitled (Scenes of Hunting and Camp Life), a gorgeous 1969 hanging, sold for CAD$70,800 (a new artist record)

• Marion Tuu'luq, Composition, Circle of Bears, a lyrical textile hanging from the early 1970s, sold for CAD$21,240