— has been sweeping the Australian art market in recent years. On Monday, Sotheby’s in Melbourne set a new world auction record for an Aboriginal artist when a painting by Johnny Warangkula sold for nearly $½ million. “The rise of interest in Aboriginal art has been astonishing. In 1990, a mere $169,000 worth of Aboriginal art was sold at auction. By 1996, sales amounted to $1.36 million; within two years turnover exceeded $5 million.” – Sydney Morning Herald
BUT IT’S STILL BUST FOR SOME: Meanwhile, the 68-year-old artist – who was among those who pioneered the popular “dot painting” style nearly 30 years ago – was shocked to hear of the sale (as was his family, when they learned they had no legal claim to the proceeds). Warangkula sold the painting to an Alice Springs artist in 1972 for $150. Now the Aboriginal art group Desart is pressuring Sotheby’s and other art dealers to pass on some of the proceeds of these sales to Aboriginal artists. – Sydney Morning Herald