British self-taught artist Madge Gill has achieved a new auction record at Christie’s New York, where a rare 1930s embroidered textile work sold for $120,650. The sale price significantly exceeded the initial estimate of $60,000 to $80,000, marking the first time one of Gill’s rare textile pieces has ever appeared at auction. Previously, the artist was primarily known for her visionary ink drawings on calico and postcards, often created under the guidance of a spiritual entity she called “Myrninerest.”
This record-breaking sale reflects a surging institutional and market interest in Outsider Art and visionary practices, particularly following Gill's inclusion in the 2024 Venice Biennale. The 54 percent increase over her previous auction record suggests a major market recalibration for her work. As textile pieces by Gill are exceptionally rare—with most held in museum collections like the Whitworth and Collection de l’Art Brut—this sale establishes a new benchmark for the artist's most significant and scarce output.