Heffel Fine Art Auction House held its spring sales in Toronto on May 22, featuring an all-Canadian lineup of 85 lots with an estimated value of C$18m to C$22m. Despite rain and economic concerns, the two-session sale achieved C$22m total, led by Lawren Harris's *Northern Lake* (1926) at C$3.1m. Other highlights included record-breaking prices for Franklin Carmichael, Arthur Lismer, and A.Y. Jackson, plus strong results for Emily Carr and Tom Thomson works.
This sale matters because it demonstrates the resilience of the Canadian art market amid trade tensions and recession fears, while also showcasing the enduring appeal of homegrown artists, particularly members of the Group of Seven. The all-Canadian focus, dubbed "Made in Canada" by Heffel, reflects a growing emphasis on national cultural identity in the auction world, and the multiple auction records set for Canadian artists signal robust collector demand for these works.