Cowley Abbott Fine Art, a Toronto-based auction house, has opened its first permanent western Canada gallery in Calgary's East Village. The new space launches with a three-day public preview of museum-quality artworks heading to its Spring Live Auction on May 27 at the Globe and Mail Centre in Toronto. Highlights include rare works by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Vincent van Gogh, Emily Carr, and members of the Group of Seven such as Lawren Harris and A.Y. Jackson. Among the standout pieces is Emily Carr's 1936 canvas "Wind," estimated at $500,000 to $700,000, and a Lawren Harris painting valued similarly. The gallery aims to attract both collectors and casual visitors, with Peter Ohler, Western Canada Representative and Director of Private Sales, emphasizing that the space is open to anyone interested in art.
This move marks a significant expansion of Cowley Abbott's presence in western Canada, transitioning from a remote operation to a permanent downtown location. The preview offers rare public access to works from long-held private collections, some appearing at auction for the first time. By bringing international and Canadian masterworks to Calgary, the gallery underscores the growing importance of the region as a market for high-value art. The event also highlights the auction house's strategy of using competitive bidding to unlock value for rare pieces, potentially setting new benchmarks for Canadian art sales.