Fine Art
Leonard Joel’s Fine Art Department offers expertise and extensive market knowledge in traditional, modern, international and contemporary fine art.
Our curated Fine Art auctions take place three times a year and regularly feature works by significant Australian and international artists including Charles Blackman, Arthur Boyd and Jeffrey Smart, among many others.
In addition to our quarterly Fine Art auctions, Leonard Joel recently launched a new auction dedicated to Australian Women Artists.
Taking place once a year in October, the auction has revealed rare works by artists including Erica McGilchrist, Florence Fuller, and Ethel Spowers, and is designed to shine a spotlight on female artists who were often not recognised in their lifetime.
If you have a single work of art or a collection you are considering selling, please contact us for a complimentary valuation.
Fine Art Auction Highlights
Fine Art Specialists
Wiebke Brix
Head of Art
Contact WiebkeWiebke Brix brings a wealth of experience, passion for art and expertise to Leonard Joel. Wiebke holds a PhD in Fine Art and has extensive experience in the gallery sector, as well as experience in project management and marketing.
Wiebke completed a master’s of studio arts with honours at Sydney College of the Arts under the influential contemporary Australian painter and sculptor Lindy Lee. Wiebke was then awarded a scholarship to complete a PhD in Fine Arts at Monash University in Melbourne, focusing on sculpture and installation art. After completing her studies, she commenced her career at Scott Livesey Galleries as Gallery Manager, working with important Australian artists such as Stelarc, Joshua Yeldham and Bruce Armstrong. It was through director Scott Livesey that she was first exposed to the secondary art market and developed an interest in the field.
In 2022, Wiebke decided to return to her adoration for the arts and took on the role of Art Curator at Alcaston Gallery. Wiebke’s tenure at Alcaston Gallery, known for its expertise in First Nations Art, has provided her with valuable insights into the indigenous art market.
Amanda North
Senior Art Specialist
Contact AmandaAmanda's academic credentials include a Bachelor of Art History and a Master of Art Curatorship from the University of Melbourne. Amanda's interest in Italian art led her to study abroad in Italy throughout her undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, where she lived in Prato, Florence, and Venice while studying Italian Renaissance, Italian language, and Museology.
Her professional journey features roles at notable auction houses and private galleries, where she developed a keen eye for art valuation and curation. Prior to this Fine Art Specialist role, Amanda was the Art Salon Manager at Leonard Joel since 2021 where she developed her skills and interest in art valuation, thematic auction curation and auctioneering. Her experience encompasses managing significant collections and auctions, including the Sidney Nolan Auction ‘Myths, Legends, Landscapes’ from the Estate of Lady Mary Nolan and the deaccession of the National Australian Bank’s (NAB) collection - notably, where Amanda secured a white glove sale for the curated Peter Trusler auction.
With a keen interest in Australian women artists, Amanda curated thematic auctions to highlight a collection of works by Anne Marie Graham and Florence Dearling. Amanda's broad expertise in art history spans across various periods, thus underlining her involvement in expanding Leonard Joel's fine art offerings.
Hannah Ryan
Senior Art Specialist, Manager of Speciality Auctions
Contact HannahHannah Ryan began her career working as a Gallery and Projects Assistant for an established Australian artist, where she facilitated important commissions, curated public exhibitions and managed events. In 2019, Hannah joined Leonard Joel as the Prints & Multiples Specialist, developing the category into one of Leonard Joel's most popular. During her time managing the Prints and Multiples department, Hannah has further cemented it as the most established Prints and Multiples department in Australia by achieving global record prices for artists including Keith Haring, Del Kathryn Barton, Invader, and Brett Whiteley.
In 2021, Hannah's role expanded to Art Specialist & Manager of Specialty Auctions, involving the management of Leonard Joel's annual Centum, Women Artists and Indigenous Art auctions.
Madeleine Norton
Head of Decorative Arts and Art, Sydney
Contact MadeleineOriginally from Perth, Madeleine completed a double degree in Commerce and Fine Art at the University of Western Australia. From Perth she moved to London to undertake her master’s degree at Christie’s Education in History of Art and Art-world Practice. Following her studies she interned at the Peggy Guggenheim, Venice and Sotheby’s, London where she then worked for a further two years in the Contemporary Art Department on both auctions and private sales. Moving to New York in 2017 Madeleine worked at the blue-chip art gallery Sperone Westwater for two years before returning home to Australia.
In Sydney she has built her knowledge of decorative arts working on The Collector’s Auction, as well as the private collections of Dr Trevor Hyde, the late John Schaeffer AO, Trevor Kennedy AM and the Brans Collection. As a specialist in both decorative arts and art, her highly organised auctions in the Sydney saleroom highlight Leonard Joel’s multitude of strengths within the secondary market.
Fine Art FAQs
At Leonard Joel, Fine Art refers to high-quality works by renowned artists that are representative of that artist’s oeuvre and style. We offer three Fine Art auctions a year, covering various mediums, styles, and periods, featuring both Australian and international art.
Our upcoming Fine Art auction dates are listed online. Each auction listing will provide details about the date, time, location, and items included in that particular sale. Our Fine Art auctions are exhibited at Leonard Joel Melbourne to view in person ahead of the auction, and our specialists are on hand to assist with virtual viewings and additional images for those that can’t attend in person.
Leonard Joel presents works by significant Australian and international artists across painting, sculpture, printmaking, and photography. Leonard Joel has become synonymous as an auction house that provides curated art offerings and speciality auctions uncatered to elsewhere. We remain the only Australian auction house to provide dedicated annual Contemporary Art auctions, Women Artists auctions, as well as dedicated triannual Prints and Multiples auctions.
Yes, there are multiple ways to bid with Leonard Joel. You can buy from our Fine Art auctions by bidding live online, by leaving an absentee bid, by bidding over the telephone, or attending the auction in person. Please visit our How to Buy page for more details.
Printed Fine Art catalogues are available to collect in person at our viewings, or can be mailed by request. They are also available to view digitally online.
You can submit your art for complimentary online valuation on our website. Once submitted, one of our specialists will evaluate your piece and suggest its value at auction. If you prefer, you can also book an appointment with a specialist for a private consultation or join us at one of our monthly Valuation evenings.
We are always inviting entries for upcoming Fine Art auctions, and would be pleased to assist with a value estimate of your piece or collection. You can submit items for complimentary online valuation or contact us to book an appointment with one of our specialists. The specialist will work with you to provide a selling solution that meets your requirements.
Our Departments
Leonard Joel offers specialist experience and regular, curated auctions across a diverse range of categories.
Important Collections
Over our 100 year history, Leonard Joel has been entrusted with the auction of some of the most interesting and important collections in Australia.
Jewellery
Founded over four decades ago, Leonard Joel’s Jewellery department leads the market in Australia with regular, curated auctions in Melbourne and Sydney.
Art
Leonard Joel’s Art Department offers expertise and extensive market knowledge in traditional, modern, international and contemporary art.
Decorative arts
Leonard Joel presents fine European and Australian interiors in curated collections.
Asian Art
Featuring important Chinese jade, ceramics and textiles, Himalayan, Indian, Japanese and Korean works of art.
Modern Design
Modern Design is one of Leonard Joel’s most dynamic and increasingly popular collecting categories.
Luxury
Unique to the Australian marketplace, Leonard Joel’s Luxury department offers vintage and contemporary handbags and accessories.
Collectables
Leonard Joel provides unrivalled expertise in this eclectic collecting category.