VANCOUVER.- The Vancouver Art Gallery announced that $1.2 million was raised from the art auction on Saturday, April 9, held at the Fairmont Pacific Rim, Vancouver. All proceeds benefit the Gallery's exhibitions and education programs.

“We are thrilled to witness and receive such tremendous support for the Vancouver Art Gallery - from the many artists, donors and private galleries who generously donated their artworks, to bidders from near and afar whose contributions are instrumental to our institution. We are deeply grateful to everyone who has made this event possible and a real success,” said Kathleen S. Bartels, Vancouver Art Gallery’s Director.

The Gallery’s largest fundraiser this year, Art Auction 2016 featured nearly 70 artworks generously donated by artists, private collectors and galleries. The highlight of the event belonged to Jeff Wall’s The Pine on the Corner, which was appraised at $170,000, and sold for $275,000. Lawrence Paul Yuxweluptun’s new painting, appraised at $65,000, was sold for $100,000. Two significant pieces by Dana Claxton and Rodney Graham were each sold for $70,000. In addition, works by renowned artists Gordon Smith, Wang Tiande, Alano Edzerza and Jack Shadbolt were highly contested and sold significantly over the asking price. The heated live auction segment received telephone bids from around the world, resulting in 4 important sales. The Gallery’s trustees and past trustees provided remarkable support, contributing to over $500,000 in art sales.

More than two hundred esteemed guests, including collectors, artists, gallerists, cultural, business and political leaders attended this biannual charitable event. Notable presences included British Columbia’s Attorney General & Minister of Justice Suzanne Anton; City of Vancouver Councillor Heather Deal; Vancouver Art Gallery’s Honorary Chairman Michael Audain; the Gallery’s Board Chair David Calabrigo; Auction Co-Chairs Bruce Munro Wright and Hank Bull (who was also the auctioneer); David Chau, Collector, Shanghai; Xiangsheng Pan, Director of China Zheshang Bank North American Headquarters; Yin Qing and Bao Liu, investors of the Gallery’s Institute of Asian Art initiative; and Jane Lin, COO of Asia Pacific, Akyumen Technologies Corp.