Uta Uta Tjangala artworks
Selling at Auction
Selling artwork at auction can sometimes yield favorable results, particularly when multiple interested bidders compete, potentially driving up the final sale price. This environment can occasionally lead to inexperienced buyers bidding more than they originally intended, which can benefit the seller in competitive situations.
However, auctions also come with inherent limitations. One significant drawback is that they often do not achieve the full market potential of an artwork. For instance, if the most motivated buyer values a piece at $10,000 but is aware of a 30% buyer’s premium, they may only be willing to place a maximum bid of $7,000. Meanwhile, a second buyer who values the work at $6,000 may only bid up to $4,200. As a result, bidding would likely stop at $4,200, and the winning bid might be only marginally higher, say $4,300. After deducting seller’s fees and premiums, the final amount received by the seller could be less than $3,900—far below the artwork’s perceived value.
Another risk associated with auctions is limited reach. Potential buyers who may have been willing to pay significantly more might simply not be aware of the auction or unable to participate at the scheduled time. This can result in missed opportunities and lower-than-expected sale outcomes.
This dynamic explains why many art dealers are able to purchase works at auction and resell them privately at a profit. Their ability to match artworks with motivated collectors, often through targeted private outreach, allows them to capitalize on the limitations of the auction model.
Private Treaty Sales
An alternative to auction is selling through private treaty. This method involves engaging a dealer to offer the artwork directly to known collectors who specialize in or have a strong interest in a particular artist or genre. The sale is conducted at an agreed price, allowing for a more targeted and potentially lucrative transaction.
One key advantage of private treaty sales is flexibility. If the dealer is unable to secure a buyer through private channels, the artwork can still be offered at auction later. This approach often ensures better control over the sales process and may result in a more favorable outcome for the seller, especially when time, discretion, and maximizing value are priorities.
I specialise in private treaty sales and if you have a Uta Uta Tjangala artwork and you would like to know what I think it could be sold for, please send me an image dimensions and provenance.
All images in this article are for educational purposes only.
This site may contain copyrighted material the use of which was not specified by the copyright owner.
All images are the Copyright of the estate of Uta Uta Tjangala
Testicles Going Walkabout (Medicine Story) (version 1) (1971)
Natural earth pigments and bondcrete on composition board,
31 x 20 cm
Hammer Price A$50,000
Medicine Story 1971
Natural earth pigments, synthetic polymer and enamel paint on composition board, bears Stuart Art Centre consignment number 2 painting 9 on the reverse of the frame,
46 x 36 cm
Hammer Price A$56,000
Untitled (Ceremony – Large Twin Ceremonial Occasion)
Date not recorded but likely 1971
Natural earth pigments and enamel paint on composition board,
47 x 22
Hammer Price A$85,000
Man Growing Old, Balls Going Walkabout (Medicine Story)
Synthetic polymer paint on composition board,
47 x 25 cm
Hammer Price A$18,000
Untitled 1971
Synthetic polymer/powder paint on composition board
No size recorded
Hammer Price A$26,000
Untitled 1971
Synthetic polymer powder paint on composition board, bears artist’s name ‘Oota’ (sic) and Stuart Art centre catalogue number 2001 on the reverse,
65 x 26 cm
UNSOLD
Medicine Story 1971
Synthetic polymer powder paint on composition board, bears Stuart Art Centre consignment number 7005 on the reverse,
69 x 36 cm
Hammer Price A$40,000
Old Man (Yina) Dreaming 1972
Synthetic polymer powder paint on composition board,
59.5 x 50 cm
Hammer Price A$46,000
Untitled 1972
Synthetic polymer paint on composition board,
78 x 30 cm
Hammer Price A$70,000
Untitled 1971
Synthetic polymer powder paint on composition board, bears the artists name ‘Oota’ (sic. ) and Stuart Art Centre catalogue number 2001 on the reverse,
65.5 x 26 cm
Hammer Price A$18,000
Big Corroboree with Water Dreaming Sacred Tjurungas, Circa 1971/72
Synthetic polymer paint on board,
66 x 63 cm
Hammer Price A$55,000
Women’s Dreaming, 1972
Synthetic polymer powder paint on composition board,
60.5 x 45.5 cm
Hammer Price A$170,000
Pintupi Cosmology c. 1972
Synthetic polymer powder paint on composition board,
51 x 35.5 cm
UNSOLD
Special Pintupi Travelling Ceremony, 1972
Synthetic polymer powder paint on composition board, inscribed verso: date, 61 x 45.5 cm
Hammer Price A$35,000
Womens Story 1971
Synthetic polymer powder paint on composition board, bears Stuart Art Centre consignment number 5083 on reverse,
54.5 x 35 cm
Hammer Price A$22,000
Untitled 1972
Synthetic polymer powder paint and natural earth pigments on composition board,
45.5 x 40.5 cm
Hammer Price A$34,000
Special Pintupi Travelling Ceremony (1972)
Synthetic polymer paint on composition board,
60.6 x 45.4 cm
Hammer Price A$150,000
Tjitji Kutjarra at Yawarrankunya (Two Boys Dreaming) 1972
Synthetic polymer powder paint on composition board,
45 x 60 cm
Hammer Price A$32,000
Women’s Dreaming 1972
Synthetic polymer paint on composition board,
40.5 x 30 cm
Hammer Price A$44,000
Women’s Ceremony 1972
Synthetic polymer powder paint on composition board, bears Stuart Art Centre consignment number 17027 on the reverse,
51 x 50 cm
Hammer Price A$26,000
Ground Story 1972
Synthetic polymer powder paint on composition board, bears artist’s name, title and Stuart Art Centre consignment number 12012 on label on the reverse,
61 x 46 cm
Hammer Price A$30,000
Katata-Nya-two Men Sleeping, 1972
Synthetic polymer paint on composition board,
90 x 13 cm
Hammer Price A$26,000
Untitled, Old Men’s Story
Synthetic polymer powder paint on composition board, bears Stuart Art Centre catalogue number 12032 on the reverse,
46 x 61 cm
UNSOLD
Untitled 1972
Synthetic polymer paint on composition board, bears artists name ‘Uta Uta’ and Stuart Art Centre consignment number 19267 on the reverse,
57 x 46 cm
UNSOLD
Untitled (Two Boys’ Dreaming – Boys; Hairpiece Dreaming) 1972
Natural earth pigments and synthetic polymer paint on composition board, 45.5 x 45 cm
Hammer Price A$60,000
Wallaby Dreaming 1972
Synthetic polymer paint on composition board,
54.5 x 52.5 cm
Hammer Price A$13,000
Yala (Yam) Dreaming, Circa 1972-73
Synthetic polymer paint on board,
49.5 x 40.5 cm
Hammer Price A$18,000
Untitled c. 1973
Synthetic polymer powder paint on composition board,
76.5 x 61 cm
UNSOLD
Umari (c. 1973)
Synthetic polymer paint on canvas, bears Aboriginal Arts & Crafts Serial Dreaming No. 1000491 and artist’s name on reverse together with various other identifying numbers,
79 x 61 cm
UNSOLD
Tingari at Palangunja 1973
Synthetic polymer paint on composition board, bears Papunya Tula Artists catalogue number 731172 on the reverse,
79 x 69 cm
Hammer Price A$19,000
Old Man Story (1973-1974)
Synthetic polymer paint on artist board,
76 x 61 cm
Hammer Price A$14,000
Old Man Dreaming at Malkanja, 1973
Synthetic polymer paint on board, framed,
68.8 x 61 cm
UNSOLD
Snake Dreaming for Children
Date not recorded but assumed to be 1973
Synthetic polymer powder paint on composition board,
41 x 61 cm
Hammer Price A$40,000
Tingari Cycle 1973
Synthetic polymer paint on composition board, bears artist’s name, location, Papunya Tula Artists catalogue number U731179, an annoted diagram and a description of the story depicted on. Papunya Tula Artists label on the reverse,
77 x 59 cm
UNSOLD
Untitled (Kutitji) (1973)
Natural earth pigments on carved wood,
75 x 25.6 cm
Hammer Price A$7,000
Two Boys Dreaming at Yuriltatjanya Waterhole 1974
Synthetic polymer paint on board, inscribed verso with Papunya Tula catalogue number ‘74919’,
61 x 45.7 cm
Hammer Price A$11,000
Untitled 1974
Synthetic polymer on Hardiflex, unsigned, bears artist’s name and dated on reverse,
120 x 70 cm
UNSOLD
‘Umari Waterhole’ 1974
Acrylic, 59 x 75 cm
Hammer Price A$1000
Untitled (Tingari Painting) c. 1974
Synthetic polymer powder paint on composition board, bears artist’s name and inscriptions 4 and AT in pencil on the reverse,
57 x 43 cm
Hammer Price A$5,000
Untitled (Mens Corroboree) 1975
Synthetic polymer paint on canvas board, numbered 206 and bears signed artist’s name and title on the reverse,
76 x 60.5 cm
Hammer Price A$2000
Untitled 1975
Synthetic polymer paint on canvas board, bears artist’s name Papunya Tula artists catalogue number UU75026 and inscribed ‘lots of bush fires find plenty of bush tucker plenty men’ and ‘Sandy Blight’ on the reverse,
77 x 61 cm
Hammer Price A$3500
Dreaming at Kutijinya 1975
Synthetic polymer on canvas, unsigned, bears Papunya Tula catalogue number 75408 on reverse,
62 x 46 cm
UNSOLD
Yarpanangu Kutaija Man, 1975
Synthetic polymer paint on artist board,
65 x 50 cm
Hammer Price A$3,600
Two Women Dreaming 1976
Synthetic polymer paint on masonite, bears Papunya Tula Catalogue No. UU763712 on the reverse,
51 x 41 cm
Hammer Price A$1900
Eating Bush Vegetables (Minyma Kutjarra), 1978
Synthetic polymer paint on canvas board,
51 x 61 cm
Hammer Price A$3,600
Minyma Kutjarra, 1978
Synthetic polymer paint on canvas board,
41.5 x 51 cm
Hammer Price A$2,400
Minyma Kutjarr Two Women Dreaming, 1978
Synthetic polymer paint on canvas board, painted with Anatjarri Tjakamarra,
56 x 71 cm
Hammer Price A$3,800
Old Man Story 1980
Synthetic polymer paint on linen, bears Papunya Tula Artists catalogue number UU801003 on the reverse,
166.5 x 97 cm
Tingari at Kanaputa, 1982
Synthetic polymer paint on linen,
165 x 56 cm
Hammer Price A$16,000
Two Snakes at Partantjana 1982
Synthetic polymer paint on linen, with Papunya Tula Artists number UU8221120 on the reverse,
50 x 102.5 cm
Hammer Price A$9,200
Untitled 1982
Acrylic on canvas, signed, inscribed Pintuti Tribe and dated 1982 on stretcher verso,
182.5 x 76 cm
Hammer Price A$40,000
Snake Dreaming 1983
Acrylic on canvas, titled and numbered on the reverse,
98.5 x 61 cm
Hammer Price A$5,000
Panalnga, 1984
Synthetic polymer paint on board, inscribed verso Papunya Tula Artists cat. ‘UU840821’,
38 x 45 cm
Hammer Price A$4,600
Untitled 1984
Acrylic on canvas, bears catalogue number CSCA254,
76 x 56 cm
Hammer Price A$1000
Two Travelling Women 1984
Synthetic polymer paint on linen, bears Papunya Tula Artists catalogue number UU840126 on the reverse,
183 x 105 cm
Hammer Price A$20,000
Kuningka (Native Cat) at Putjantjanya 1985
Synthetic polymer paint on linen, bears signed Papunya Tula Artists catalogue number UU850924 on the reverse,
154 x 56.5 cm
Hammer Price A$4000
Untitled 1986
Synthetic polymer paint on linen, bears Papunya Tula Artists catalogue number UU860615 on the reverse,
165 x 48 cm
Hammer Price A$25,000
Two Snake Ancestors at Lampintja Southwest of Kintore
Synthetic polymer paint on linen, bears artist’s name on the reverse,
183 x 59.5 cm
Hammer Price A$15,000
Yinyiling Waterholes
Synthetic polymer paint on canvas,
121 x 90 cm
Hammer Price A$15,000
Women’s Dreaming (1973-1974)
Synthetic polymer paint on linen,
164 x 48 cm
Hammer Price A$14,000
Latalnga (A Hill) 1984
Synthetic polymer paint on artists board, bears title, Papunya Tula catalogue number UU840822 and brief notes and annotated diagram on the reverse,
45.5 x 38 cm
Hammer Price A$2,000
Two Travelling Women 1984
Synthetic polymer paint on linen, bears Papunya Tula artists catalogue number UU840146 on the reverse,
105 x 183 cm
Hammer Price A$13,500
Mt Allan Dreaming 1985
Synthetic polymer paint on canvas, inscribed verso, ‘Uta uta Tjangala/ Papunya – Kintore/ Pintupi/ Mt Allan Dreaming/ 1985’,
90 x 59.5 cm
Hammer Price A$2,600
The Crow at Muyinga 1987
Synthetic polymer paint on canvas board, bears artist’s name together with Papunya Tula catalogue number UU870253 on the reverse,
45.5 x 38 cm
Hammer Price A$3500
Designs Associated with Secret-Sacred Tingari Site of Umari 1987
Synthetic polymer paint on canvas, bears artist’s name and Papunya Tula catalogue number UU870385 on the reverse,
140.5 x 100 cm
UNSOLD
The Crow at Muyinga 1987
Synthetic polymer paint on canvasboard, inscribed verso with artist’s name and Papunya Tula Artists cat. no. UU870253 and unknown cat. no. P655, 45.5 x 38 cm
Hammer Price A$5,000
Marpurrinya 1988
Synthetic polymer paint on canvas, bears artist’s name and Papunya Tula catalogue number UU880446 on the reverse,
102 x 76.5 cm
Hammer Price A$6000
Two Women Dreaming at Wilkinkarra (Lake Mackay), 1988
Synthetic polymer paint on linen, inscribed verso, artist’s name, date, title, Papunya Tula Artists cat. UU880256,
25 x 50.5 cm
Hammer Price A$3,800
The Tingari Site of Tjarrapirpi 1988
Synthetic polymer paint on canvas, bears artist’s name and Papunya Tula catalogue number UU8807150 on the reverse,
91.5 x 91.5 cm
UNSOLD
Untitled, 1988
Synthetic polymer paint on linen, inscribed verso: artist’s name and Papunya Tula Artists cat. UU880593,
136 x 91 cm
Hammer Price A$10,000
Napanangka and Nangala Women Sitting at Camp at Ngurapalangu, 1989
Acrylic on canvas board,
61 x 30.5 cm
Hammer Price A$2000
Young Mens Dreaming 1990
Synthetic polymer paint on composition board, bears artist’s name, Papunya Tula Artists catalogue number UU900962, together with a description of the story and diagram on the reverse,
61 x 30.5 cm
Hammer Price A$2,200
Untitled 1990
Synthetic polymer paint on canvas, inscribed verso, ‘Uta Uta/UU900964’,
150.5 x 37.5 cm
Hammer Price A$4,200
Early Papunya Artworks and Articles
All images in this article are for educational purposes only.
This site may contain copyrighted material the use of which was not specified by the copyright owner.