This past Saturday (April 9), the Fairmont Pacific Rim housed the Vancouver Art Gallery's Art Auction 2016, where more than 200 guests and donors helped contribute $1.2 million to the gallery's future exhibitions and education programs.

Private collectors, galleries, and artists donated close to 70 works to be auctioned off at the event.

Jeff Wall's The Pine on the Corner sold for over $100,000 more than its appraised price of $170,000, at $275,000. A new painting by First Nations artist Lawrence Paul Yuxweluptun was appraised at $60,000 but sold for $100,000.

Pieces by Rodney Graham and Dana Claxton each sold for $70,000. Other works by artists including Gordon Smith, Wang Tiande, Alano Edzerza and Jack Shadbolt sold for well over their asking prices. Collectors from around the world called in to place their bids during the heated live auction portion of the event. 

“We are thrilled to witness and receive such tremendous support for the Vancouver Art Gallery - from the many artists, donors and private galleries who generously donated their artworks, to bidders from near and afar whose contributions are instrumental to our institution. We are deeply grateful to everyone who has made this event possible and a real success,” said Kathleen S. Bartels, Vancouver Art Gallery’s Director, in a news release.

Art Auction 2016 is the gallery's largest fundraiser of the year.