In a continuation of the revival in Arkley sales the previous year, 2023 saw further healthy auction activity, and the appearance of several notable paintings not seen for many years.
In May, Psychedelic Head 1990 (in a Sydney collection since 2004) sold at Smith & Singer for just under $500,000. Two rarely-sighted paintings from 1978 – Curvilinear with Grid 1978 and Psychedelic Painting 1978 – also sold at auction during the year, the latter for almost $200,000 (including buyer’s premium), an auction record for a pre-1980s work. Among several significant works offered for auction in November, the most notable sales were of Physiognomy 1987 and Shadow Factories 1991; the latter (in a single Melbourne collection since the year it was painted) topped the year’s Arkley results.
Further significant additions and revisions to the present catalogue were also made, following receipt of new information, including check-lists for several exhibitions not previously documented in full: for details, see New and significantly amended entries (2022-23).