DRAFT

Yala Yala Gibbs Tjungurrayi 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.

In the niche market of Aboriginal art however this is the exception with mosy potential bidders being knowledgable and well researched

Downside to Selling at Auction

Auctions come with inherent limitations. One significant drawback is that they 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, the second most motivated 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 one bid higher, say $4,300. After deducting seller’s fees (10%-29%), the final amount received by the seller will 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, not have the money at the time 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 artworks 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 collect or have a strong interest in a particular artist or genre. The sale is conducted at price agreed buy the dealer and seller, allowing for a more targeted and 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 often result in a more favorable outcome for the seller, especially when maximizing value is the priority.

I specialise in private treaty sales and if you have a Kaapa Mbitjana 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 Yala Yala Gibbs Tjungurrayi.

Old Man’s (Yina) Dreaming (1972)

Synthetic polymer paint on composition board, 63.5 x 32.5 cm

Hammer Price: A$38,000

Old Men (1972)

Synthetic polymer powder paint on composition board, 50.5 x 34 cm

Hammer Price: A$36,000

Wind Story 1972/73

Synthetic polymer powder paint on composition board, 54 x 35 cm

Hammer Price: A$34,000

Snake Dreaming at Karrilwarra 1998

Synthetic polymer paint on linen, bears artist’s name, size and Papunya Tula Artists catalogue number YY980945 on the reverse, 91 x 46 cm

Hammer Price: A$32,000

Untitled 1998

Synthetic polymer paint on linen, bears artists name size and Papunya Tula Artists catalogue number YY9809102 on the reverse, 90.5 x 91.5 cm

Hammer Price: A$28,000

Camp Site 1972

Synthetic polymer powder paint on composition board, inscribed verso: 19417, 79 x 32.5 cm

Hammer Price: A$28,000

Tingari at Kulkultjana, 1998

Synthetic polymer paint on linen, 122 x 122 cm

Hammer Price: A$25,000

Untitled (Designs Associated with the Rock-Hole Site of Wayuta), 1996

Synthetic polymer paint on linen, inscribed verso with artist’s name and cat.no. ‘YY960782’,

91 x 91 cm

Hammer Price: A$25,000

Wirrpi (Near Lake Macdonald) 1997

Synthetic polymer paint on linen, bears artists name size and Papunya Tula artists catalogue number YY970854 on the reverse, 

153 x 122 cm

Hammer Price: A$20,000

Dreaming Journey 1971

Synthetic polymer paint on composition board, 

30.5 x 30.5 cm

Hammer Price: A$20,000

Possum Dreaming at Wapintja, 1989

Synthetic polymer paint on linen, bears the artist’s name, dimensions and Papunya Tula Artists catalogue number YY890798 on reverse,

152 x 92 cm

Hammer Price: A$19,000

Tingari Men Running Towards Marapinta 1984

Synthetic polymer on canvas

Size not recorded

Hammer Price: A$19,000

Untitled 1972

Synthetic polymer paint on masonite, 

64 x 46 cm

Hammer Price: A$18,000

Classic Travelling Dreaming June 1971

Synthetic polymer powder paint on board, 

34.7 x 28.6 cm

Hammer Price: A$16,200

Untitled 1980

Synthetic polymer paint on linen, bears signed artist’s name and Papunya Tula Artists catalogue number YY800330 on stretcher on the reverse, 

169 x 98.5 cm

Hammer Price: A$15,500

Tingari Men at Mulli-Ukutu 1977

Synthetic polymer paint on canvas, 

163.5 x 48.5 cm

Hammer Price: A$15,000

Tingari Men at Patantja, 1988

Synthetic polymer paint on linen, inscribed verso: artist’s name, 

183 x 121 cm

Hammer Price: A$15,000

Snake Dreaming at Karrilwarra 1998

Synthetic polymer paint on linen, bears artist’s name size and Papunya Tula Artists catalogue number YY980945 on the reverse, 

91 x 46 cm

Hammer Price: A$13,000

Wirlpi 1997

Synthetic polymer paint on linen, bears artist’s name size and Papunya Tula Artists catalogue number YY970108 on the reverse, 

122.5 x 121.5 cm

Hammer Price: A$12,000

Tingari Site, Lake MacDonald, 1989

Synthetic polymer paint on linen, inscribed verso, artist’s name and Papunya Tula Artists cat. YY890143, 

180.5 x 121.5 cm

Hammer Price: A$12,000

Untitled (1985)

Synthetic polymer paint on linen, with Papunya Tula Artists number YY850614 on the reverse, 

121.5 x 91 cm

Hammer Price: A$10,000

Events Associated with Tingari Men Travelling at Wapintya (Wayuta-Possum Dreaming) 1986

Synthetic polymer paint on canvas, bears Papunya Tula Artists catalogue number YY860390 on the reverse, 

121 x 121 cm

Hammer Price: A$9,500

Men’s Ceremony at Lampintja, 1998

Synthetic polymer paint on linen,

91 x 91 cm

Hammer Price: A$9,000

Tingari Men at Yirrirrinkinya

Synthetic polymer paint on canvas, with Papunya Tula Artists number YY9609106 and Australian Gallery of Dreaming number 6032 on the reverse,

92 x 91.3 cm

Hammer Price: A$8,500

Untitled 1989

Synthetic polymer paint on linen, bears artist’s, size and Papunya Tula catalogue number yy890957 on the reverse, 150 x 120 cm

Hammer Price: A$8,500

Untitled (The Rockhole Site of Tupupingya) (1997)

Synthetic polymer paint on linen,

91 x 91 cm

Hammer Price: A$8,000

A Large Group of Tingari Men Gathered at the Site of Yinarkinya (South West of Lake Macdonald) 1988

Synthetic polymer paint on canvas, bears Papunya Tula catalogue number YY880738 on the reverse, 

182 x 151 cm

Hammer Price: A$8,000

Tingari Dreaming c. 1985

Synthetic polymer paint on canvas, bears the letters YY on the reverse,

 141 x 100 cm

Hammer Price: A$8,000

Designs Associated with the Kunungka Dreaming 1988

Synthetic polymer paint on canvas, 

151 x 121 cm

Hammer Price: A$8,000

Tingari at Karrkurruntjintjana, 1984

Synthetic polymer paint on Belgian linen, 

122 x 122 cm

Hammer Price: A$7,500

Senior Pintipi Mens Dreaming, 1997

Synthetic polymer paint on beligan linen, 

153 x 61 cm

Hammer Price: A$8,000

Rockhole Site at Tarrparpa 1997

Synthetic polymer paint on canvas, inscribed verso: Yala Yala Gibbs, Tjungurrayi/YY970497, 91.5 x 91.5 cm

Hammer Price: A$6,500

Wapintjinna 1996

Synthetic polymer paint on linen, bears artist’s name, size and Papunya Tula Artists catalogue number YY960770 on the reverse, 

90 x 46 cm

Hammer Price: A$6,000

Tingari at Karrkurruntjintjana, 1994

Synthetic polymer paint on Belgian linen, 

136 x 91 cm

Hammer Price: A$6,000

Tingari Cycle 1998

Synthetic polymer paint on linen, 

91 x 46 cm

Hammer Price: A$6,000

Designs Associated with the Tingari Ceremonies at the Site of Nyinarrkinya

Synthetic polymer on canvas, inscribed with Papunya Tula catalogue number on reverse, 

183 x 107 cm

Hammer Price: A$6,000

Tingari Painting, 1997

Synthetic polymer paint on linen, inscribed verso, artist’s name, size and Papunya Tula Artists cat. YY970664, 

152 x 61 cm

Hammer Price: A$5,500

Tingari, 1994

Synthetic polymer paint on Belgian linen, 

122 x 122 cm

Hammer Price: A$5,500

Untitled, 1998

Synthetic polymer paint on linen, inscribed verso: artist’s name, size and Papunya Tula Artists cat. YY9807116 and Palya Art cat. 0337,

122 x 61 cm

Hammer Price: A$5,000

Kanparrka (Centipede Dreaming) 1996

Synthetic polymer paint on linen, bears artists name size and Papunya Tula catalogue number YY961045 on the reverse,

90.5 x 45 cm

Hammer Price: A$4,500

Patilpa (Small Green Parrot) Dreaming 1998

Synthetic polymer paint on linen, bears artists name size and Papunya Tula Artists catalogue number YY980334 on the reverse, 

61 x 31 cm

Hammer Price: A$4,250

Lampintja, 1998

Synthetic polymer paint on linen, bears the artist’s name, dimensions and Papunya Tula Artists catalogue number YY980999 on reverse, 

38 x 46 cm

Hammer Price: A$4,500

Tingari Cycle 1996

Synthetic polymer paint on canvas, inscribed verso, ‘Yala Yala Gibbs Tjunarrayi/YY960353’,

150.5 x 60.5 cm

Hammer Price: A$4,200

The Tingari at Kaakuratintja, 1995

Synthetic polymer paint on Belgian linen,

153 x 77 cm

Hammer Price: A$3,800

Tingari Myth Cycle at Yilililtu 1986

Acrylic on canvas, inscribed verso with cat. no. YY860694, accompanied by Papunya Tula Artists certificate of authenticity,

122 x 91 cm

Hammer Price: A$3,600

Untitled, 1991

Synthetic polymer paint on linen, inscribed verso: artist’s name, size and Papunya Tula Artists Pty Ltd catalogue number YY9105385, 

132 x 58.5 cm

Hammer Price: A$3,200

Kuningka (Western Quoll) Dreaming at Kaakaratintja (Lake Macdonald) 1987

Synthetic polymer paint on canvas, bears Papunya Tula Artists catalogue number YY871166 on the reverse, 

86.5 x 26.5 cm

Hammer Price: A$3,000

Untitled – Rock Hole at the Site of Kultuyala

Acrylic on linen, artist’s name inscribed verso, bears catalogue number YY950506, 

46 x 38 cm

Hammer Price: A$2,500

Karrkurintinja

Synthetic polymer paint on canvas, inscribed verso, 

140.5 x 100 cm

Hammer Price: A$2,600

Untitled 1997

Synthetic polymer paint on linen, inscribed verso: ‘Papunya Tula Artists Pty Ltd. (Designs associated with the rockhole site of Tjuntalpi), 1997 61 x 31 cm / YY971217 Palya Art 0383 / 0383 / Yala Yala Gibbs Tjungurrayi’, 

61 x 31 cm

Hammer Price: A$2,000

Untitled (designs associated with the rockhole site of Tjuluntjulunga), 1997

Synthetic polymer paint on linen, inscribed verso: ‘Papunya Tula Artists Pty Ltd 61 x 31 cm / Palya Art 0384 Yala Yala Gibbs Tjungurrayi / YY971218’, 

61 x 31 cm

Hammer Price: A$2,000

Karrkurutinyja (Lake Macdonald) 1992

Synthetic polymer paint on canvasboard, inscribed verso with artist’s name, title and Papunya Tula cat. no. YY920548, 

46 x 61 cm

Hammer Price: A$1,100

Untitled 1984

Synthetic polymer paint on linen,

121 x 76 cm

UNSOLD

Untitled, 1998

Synthetic polymer paint on Belgian linen, 

107 x 28 cm

UNSOLD

Untitled 1972

Synthetic polymer powder paint on composition board, bears artist’s name ‘Yalla Yalla’ on the reverse, 

58.5 x 56 cm

UNSOLD

Untitled 1972

Synthetic polymer powder paint on composition board, bears artist’s name ‘Yalla Yalla’ on the reverse, 

58.5 x 56 cm

UNSOLD