Colin McCahon
New Zealand · 1919–1987 · Painter
Colin John McCahon was a New Zealand artist whose work over 45 years consisted of various styles, including landscape, figuration, abstraction, and the overlay of painted text.… (Wikipedia)
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Record prices
St Matthew: LightningArt+Object · NZ$1,961,375≈ $1,378,121≈ £1,029,293≈ €1,203,809Sign up to see
The Canoe TainuiArt+Object · NZ$1,621,687≈ $1,210,508≈ £904,579≈ €1,077,252Sign up to see
Entombment after TitianArt+Object · NZ$1,098,370≈ $771,748≈ £576,404≈ €674,133Sign up to see
Colin McCahon’s highest prices recorded at auction, ranked in US dollars at each sale-date exchange rate and shown in the currency of the sale (with the buyer’s premium where the house publishes it).
Lots sold
253
of 325 offered · 2007–2026
Sell-through
78%
sold ÷ offered
Price trend
By medium
| Medium | Offered | Sold | Sell-through | Average | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 87 | 63 | 72% | $171kSign up | $90.4kSign up | $1.4MSign up |
| Oil | 31 | 18 | 58% | $167kSign up | $108kSign up | $772kSign up |
| Acrylic | 44 | 33 | 75% | $171kSign up | $65.8kSign up | $1.4MSign up |
| Mixed media | 1 | 1 | 100% | $26.1kSign up | $26.1kSign up | $26.1kSign up |
| Works on paper | 112 | 79 | 71% | $47.9kSign up | $42.2kSign up | $244kSign up |
| Watercolor | 25 | 17 | 68% | $54kSign up | $47.2kSign up | $108kSign up |
| Gouache | 7 | 6 | 86% | $75.3kSign up | $48.3kSign up | $244kSign up |
| Pastel | 4 | 3 | 75% | $30.9kSign up | $34.4kSign up | $38kSign up |
| Drawing | 55 | 36 | 65% | $34.4kSign up | $26.6kSign up | $139kSign up |
| Prints & multiples | 86 | 74 | 86% | $13.8kSign up | $3.1kSign up | $242kSign up |
| Lithograph | 41 | 32 | 78% | $4kSign up | $3.1kSign up | $12.9kSign up |
| Screenprint | 28 | 27 | 96% | $5.6kSign up | $3kSign up | $20kSign up |
| Woodcut / linocut | 1 | 1 | 100% | $3.3kSign up | $3.3kSign up | $3.3kSign up |
| Print (other) | 9 | 8 | 89% | $1.2kSign up | $906Sign up | $3.6kSign up |
| Multiple | 7 | 6 | 86% | $122kSign up | $101kSign up | $242kSign up |
| Photography | 1 | 1 | 100% | $5.8kSign up | $5.8kSign up | $5.8kSign up |
| Photograph | 1 | 1 | 100% | $5.8kSign up | $5.8kSign up | $5.8kSign up |
| Other | 39 | 36 | 92% | $12.4kSign up | $4.8kSign up | $84.4kSign up |
Medium classes are derived from the medium text as published by each house; “Other” includes lots whose medium wasn’t stated.
By year
| Year | Offered | Sold | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 19 | 19 | $11.5kSign up |
| 2025 | 14 | 14 | $35.3kSign up |
| 2024 | 14 | 8 | $10.5kSign up |
| 2023 | 20 | 19 | $47.3kSign up |
| 2022 | 9 | 8 | $25.5kSign up |
| 2021 | 16 | 16 | $27.1kSign up |
| 2020 | 20 | 20 | $17.1kSign up |
| 2019 | 30 | 22 | $11kSign up |
| 2018 | 23 | 19 | $6.6kSign up |
| 2017 | 14 | 9 | $27.3kSign up |
| 2016 | 31 | 22 | $23.7kSign up |
| 2015 | 16 | 12 | $32.6kSign up |
| 2014 | 23 | 14 | $54.6kSign up |
| 2013 | 20 | 13 | $47.3kSign up |
| 2012 | 12 | 8 | $21.7kSign up |
| 2011 | 15 | 12 | $34.2kSign up |
| 2010 | 6 | 2 | $14.4kSign up |
| 2009 | 11 | 5 | $34.4kSign up |
| 2008 | 8 | 7 | $9.4kSign up |
| 2007 | 4 | 4 | $11.8kSign up |