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AGNES Members Valuation Day and Art Talk with Rob Cowley

Tett Centre for Creativity and Learning
Malting Tower
370 King St West
3 April 2025

Valuations of your artwork and lecture by experts from Cowley Abbott for Agnes Members.

Join Agnes for a Members-only valuation and lecture event!

Following the success of Bring Your Thing: AGNES Roadshow this past summer, experts from Auction House Cowley Abbott are back in Kingston to valuate your Canadian or International artworks. Sign up to book a time slot for a free valuation between 2:30-4:30 pm, or join us for a reception and lecture starting at 4:30 pm (or both!).

Rob Cowley, President of Cowley Abbott, as well as Owner & Partner and auctioneer for the firm, will present a talk discussing the Canadian Auction Industry. The talk will include an overview on the auction house and its history over the last decade, and then will dive into auction stories of exciting, rare artworks that have been offered and sold at auction. Various collections, both private and public, that Cowley Abbott has handled at auction will be highlighted, while discussing the secondary auction market in general and the Canadian art world. Rob will happily answer any questions at the close of the talk.

Event schedule

Canadian and International Art valuations: 2:30-4:30
Reception: 4:30-6:00
Rob Cowley Lecture: 6:00-7:00

Important notes about the event

This event is only open to current Agnes members. Not yet a member? Become one today!

Register for a valuation and a spot at the lecture below. Limited valuation spots available. Register by 27 March 2025.

Canadian art valuation

International art valuation

Lecture with Rob Cowley

Participants must remain with their object and remain solely responsible for their belongings at all times. Please do not bring items you do not feel comfortable transporting and handling yourself.

Rob Cowley is the President, as well as Owner and Partner of the auction house Cowley Abbott in Toronto. Rob has worked in the auction industry for 25 years, receiving extensive training from specialists in all areas of the auction and appraisal industry, with a focus on historical and post-war Canadian art. He is a graduate of the University of Ottawa and has also completed appraisal courses through the International Society Appraisers. As an auctioneer, Rob regularly donates his expert services to various fundraising events and organizations and frequently speaks to groups about the art and auction industry.

Meet the Specialists

White man with grey hair and glasses standing at a podium. His arm is outstretched as he engages with the audience as an auctioneer.

Rob Cowley at an auction.

Anna Holmes is Senior Art Specialist at Cowley Abbott Fine Art Auctioneers. Anna’s professional background includes fifteen years of experience in the Canadian auction world, working with various Toronto firms and receiving mentorship from recognized experts in the Canadian Art auction industry. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with Honours from Queen’s University, majoring in Art History and History, a Masters degree in Art, Style and Design, Art World Practice, with Christie’s Education in London, England, and MLitt degree from the University of Glasgow. While undertaking her undergraduate studies, Anna volunteered and worked at the Agnes Etherington Art Centre, acting as both a Curatorial Assistant and Collections Assistant.

Portrait of Anna Holmes. A smiling white woman with shoulder length brown hair wearing a dark blue blazer and a white tshirt.

Portrait of Anna Holmes.

Perry Tung is Senior International Art Specialist at Cowley Abbott, and a fine art specialist and auctioneer with over 20 years of experience in both the primary and secondary art markets. Educated at the University of Toronto, where he completed his degree in Fine Art History and English Literature, he continued his education in the arts at Humber College, completing post-graduate courses in Cultural Management while working at the Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art (formerly the Art Gallery of North York). Perry is a regular commentator and lecturer on Canadian art and the auction market in Canada.

formal portrait of a man in a suit against a grey backdrop. He has a grey beard and a green tie.

Portrait of Perry Tung.

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Footnotes
Image Credits

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