Adams sale paints the art world green.

(From Irish Independent)

Talk about having an 'art attack'. This morning many of the top gallerists throughout the country will be choking on their cornflakes as they come to terms with the shockwaves following the phenomenal success of the Mark O'Neill auction at Adams on St Stephen's Green.

Last Wednesday evening, some savvy observers claim, the mould as we know it was broken. O'Neill, from Bunclody, Co Wexford, is an extremely sought after artist who had several successful exhibitions at the now defunct Frederick Gallery. David Britton, who with his wife Karen Reihill, co-owned the gallery, has since become a director of Adams, and this week's innovative exhibition with subsequent auction of the works was his idea.

The 69 pictures that went under the hammer sold like hot cakes, with many making several times their estimate. The auction grossed over 500,000 which is twice what the artist would have earned in a gallery sale. Commission is usually 50% for the artist and, of course, the public paid the going price on the day plus 15% commission and VAT, again less than the 30-80% commission charged by many galleries.

It was fair to say the staff at Adams were literally in the pink. Everybody had a touch of pink. Pink ties, shirts and socks abounded. James O'Halloran, very sporty in a pink tie, conducted ...