Show Preview | Scottsdale Art Auction

At the heart of the Scottsdale Art Auction’s largest-ever live sale, on April 11 and 12, are almost 60 original works by Maynard Dixon (1875-1946) from the collection of the late Abram “Abe” Packer Hays Jr., who passed away earlier this year at age 94. The collection contains oil paintings, watercolors, drawings and studies; many are from Dixon’s time in Arizona, including some that date prior to statehood.

Hays was generous in lending art and artifacts from his collection to museums around North America, and works from the Dixon collection have been in numerous museum and traveling exhibitions. “We’re honored to have been chosen to represent this collection,” says Brad Richardson, a partner in the Scottsdale Art Auction. “Besides Abe Hays’s family, this was his prized possession.”

Among the collection’s notable paintings are WALLS OF WALPI, estimated at $75,000 to $125,000; OASIS (est. $60,000-$90,000), and DESERT ROCKS NO.2/CAMELBACK MOUNTAIN (est. $60,000-$90,000). The latter, dated 1925, depicts a portion of the Phoenix landmark. A 1935 painting, BARN AND POPLARS, is estimated at $60,000 to $90,000.

As with all of the auction house’s sales, this spring’s offerings include works by a number of important historic and contemporary Western artists, as well as American, wildlife and sporting art. The Taos Society of Artists is well represented by Oscar E. Berninghaus’s THE EDGE OF THE FOOTHILLS, depicting a group of Taos Pueblo men resting their horses in the shade, while Taos Mountain looms in the background. The painting has an estimate of $175,000 to $275,000. Other works by Taos Society artists include E.I. Couse’s OFFERING TO THE GREAT SPIRIT (est. $400,000-$600,000) and three pieces by Joseph Henry Sharp.

Legendary Western artist Charles M. Russell’s watercolor NAVAJO WILD HORSE HUNTERS comes to the market after more than 30 years in a private collection, while the pen-and-ink with watercolor CENTER FIRE MAN ON A BRONC highlights Russell’s sense of action and historic accuracy in fine details. Among other significant historic lots is Thomas Moran’s small but magnificent ON THE HANCE TRAIL-GRAND CANYON OF THE COLORADO RIVER, ARIZONA, with an estimate of $750,000 to $1 million. Also of special note is G. Harvey’s seminal painting THE AMERICAN DREAM, a romantic view of the nation’s capital at sunset with a crowd of late 19th-century citizens. The piece hung for a time in the national rotunda.

Collectors familiar with Old Town Scottsdale will recognize the iconic Ed Mell bronze, JACK KNIFE, which sits in the Main Street roundabout. A 14-inch version of the sculpture will be up for auction, along with several Ed Mell paintings including WESTERN GAP I, which is estimated at $28,000 to $38,000. Contemporary Western offerings include major works by Mark Maggiori, John Coleman, William Acheff, Martin Grelle, Logan Maxwell Hagege, Eric Bowman and Kyle Polzin. Contemporary Native art is represented by such greats as Fritz Scholder, Allan Houser, John Nieto, Kevin Red Star and Earl Biss.

In its 21st year, and now with two sales annually, the Scottsdale Art Auction, continues to maintain a 17 percent buyer’s premium, “the lowest we know of,” Richardson says. He adds that this spring’s sale is especially exciting since it is rare to have such a large number of works by a single artist. “It’s a great opportunity for someone who has always wanted a Dixon.” —Gussie Fauntleroy

contact information(480) 945-0225scottsdaleartauction.com

This story appeared in the April/May 2025 issue of Southwest Art magazine. Subscribe today to read every issue in its entirety

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