The flurry of auction results in 2019 was followed by the appearance of two Arkleys in Menzies’ Melbourne auction on 27 Feb.2020: Discocacti 1986 (not sold), and Untitled [‘The Second Village’] 1998 [W/P]. Then, in November, Deutscher and Hackett auctioned Eastern Suburbs Pink Home 1991. This major early 1990s suburban house canvas had not previously been included in the present catalogue, owing to doubts about its provenance; but these were resolved prior to auction.
Generally, however, the Arkley market was adversely affected by the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, a situation that continued to disrupt general art-market activity (along with everything else) during subsequent years.
Several ‘white’ works on paper previously in the artist’s collection were sold to private collectors during 2020: see ‘White’ works on paper (c.1974-78), cat.nos.70, 83, 137, 145, 155, 156 and 166. Further examples from the same series were donated to State Library Victoria during the year: for details, see under 2021.