Some of the most recognizable names in art history are hanging in a new gallery in the East Village, but only for a few days.
Cowley Abbott Fine Art, a Toronto‑based auction house, has opened its first permanent western Canada gallery in Calgary, marking its arrival with a three‑day public preview of museum‑quality artworks heading to auction later this spring.
On view are rare works by Pierre‑Auguste Renoir, Vincent van Gogh, Emily Carr, and several members of the Group of Seven, including Lawren Harris and A.Y. Jackson.
The artworks on display are highlights from Cowley Abbott’s Spring Live Auction, taking place May 27 at the Globe and Mail Centre in Toronto.
The downtown Calgary gallery is open to the public Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“You don’t need to be a collector,” says Peter Ohler, Western Canada Representative and Director of Private Sales. “If you’re just interested, yeah, come and see our new space.”
The preview includes many works rarely displayed publicly, many pulled from long‑held private collections and, in some cases, coming to auction for the first time.
One of the most significant pieces on display is Emily Carr’s 1936 canvas “Wind,” estimated to sell for $500,000 to $700,000.
“Emily Carr canvases of her mature period of this quality and this size are very rare,” Ohler added.
The painting has been in the same Ontario family since the mid‑1940s and was previously exhibited at what was then called the Art Gallery of Toronto in 1937.
“Historically, works of this quality have sold for over a million dollars,” said Ohler.
Several of the works were selected specifically with Calgary audiences in mind, including an A.Y. Jackson canvas depicting Waterton Parks from the 1940s.
“Waterton Parks is local,” Ohler says. “A.Y. Jackson, Group of Seven guy, everybody kind of knows him.”
Also on view is a rare early canvas by Tom Thomson, whose works rarely appear on the market, as well as a Lawren Harris masterwork from a private Calgary collection.
The Harris painting, estimated at $500,000 to $700,000, depicts Coldwell Bay on Lake Superior and dates to a pivotal period in the artist’s career.
“You’re not going to bring out five Arthur Lismer paintings,” Ohler explained. “You just bring one or two and try to represent the sale.”
Among the international highlights is ‘Paysage du Midi, c. 1900’ by Pierre‑Auguste Renoir, estimated between $150,000 and $250,000. Renoir works are rarely offered at auction in Canada, with the last comparable canvas selling more than two decades ago.
Nearby hangs a Vincent van Gogh etching created in the final year of the artist’s life.
“Everybody knows him,” Ohler says with a laugh. “I’ve never sold a Van Gogh in my life, so we’ll see.”
The etching is estimated at $200,000 to $250,000 and has also been held in a private collection.
Ohler says auctions can unlock value that private sales cannot.
“When you get a painting that is that rare, you would think there are multiple collectors out there who want to own it,” he says. “They compete for it, pushing the price higher at auction.”
The new gallery marks a shift for Cowley Abbott in western Canada, moving from a remote presence to a permanent downtown location.
“I was working out of my house for the last four years,” Ohler said.
Outside of auction previews, the space will host contemporary exhibitions and support private sales, appraisals, and consignment services.
Cowley Abbott Fine Art in Calgary is located at 607 Confluence Way SE.