Australian art auction houses are following the lead of their international counterparts by diversifying into the world of artist representation.  The Australian art auction market is a tough environment to operate in, which explains why auction houses are doing everything they can to generate business.

The latest auction house to take the plunge is Sotheby’s Australia who recently announced that they will be the exclusive agent for the highly regarded Australian artist David Larwill.

Larwil, who died in 2011, was one of the founders of Melbourne art collective Roar Studios, which was established in 1981.  He was a pioneer and leader of a distinctive genre of exuberant, larrikin neo-expressionism that emerged in Australian painting in the 1980s.

“Combining a strong sense of community values with a generosity of spirit, David Larwill was a long-standing supporter of numerous social issues and lent his voice and his art to causes that raised awareness and facilitated change in areas of conservation, Indigenous, and human rights,” said Geoffrey Smith, Chairman of Sotheby’s Australia.

“We look forward to representing David’s work and working closely with Fiona and her family to ensure his remarkable legacy endures.”

Sotheby’s Australia will manage the works held by the Estate; facilitate copyright and reproduction rights, arrange exhibitions & sales, whilst providing overall academic and research support.

Chris Deutscher, Exective Director of auction house Deutscher and Hackett, was recently appointed as the exclusive Melbourne agent for established Melbourne artist Peter Booth.

Peter Booth is possibly Australia's most accomplished and respected figurative painter. Born in Sheffield in England in 1940, the son of a steelworker, Booth came to Australia with his family in 1957.

”I have remained a constant admirer of Peter Booth’s work and its evolution over several decades and I am thrilled to be back in the position of actively promoting Peter’s work to a growing number of collectors, both public and private, here and overseas,” Deutscher said.