Although primarily known as a venue for great Western art sales, the Scottsdale Art Auctionhas routinely brought in more contemporary non-Western material for its annual April sale. Results have been positive. In just the 2026 sale, works by artists such as Daniel Gerhartz, Dennis Ziemienski, Daniel Sprick, Christopher Blossom and others hit the auction block, many of them selling for within estimates or higher.
Richard Schmid (1934-2021), Carnation and Gold, oil on canvas, 12 x 20 in. Estimate: $20/30,000 SOLD: $60,000But one artist has outperformed the others, year after year, lot after lot—Richard Schmid. The late painter, known for his evocative wet-on-wet painting style and his role as a teacher and advocate for the arts, is always represented by at least several works in the April sale. The most recent auction featured nine paintings that represented every nearly genre Schmid painted: nudes and figures, landscapes and still lifes.
Not only did all nine pieces sell, eight of them sold over their estimates and with competitive bidding. Altogether, the nine lots sold for a combined $233,000, proving that collector interest for Schmid’s work remains strong.
The top lot was the still life Carnation and Gold, which sold for $60,000, doubling the high estimate of $30,000. Not far behind it was Pansies, a lot with a high estimate of $24,000 that sold for $42,000. Another noteworthy piece was Schmid’s Carrara Porches, a small work measuring 12 by 8 inches. It was estimated at $5,000 to $8,000, but defied those numbers to the tune of $27,000.
Richard Schmid (1934-2021), Pansies, oil on canvas, 12 x 24 in. Estimate: $18/24,000 SOLD: $42,000
Richard Schmid (1934-2021), Carrara Porches, oil on canvas mounted on board, 12 x 8 in. Estimate: $5/8,000 SOLD: $27,000
Brad Richardson, partner of the Scottsdale sale, says that Schmid’s work has been a welcome addition to the spring auctions. “He was a marvelous painter,” he says, “and his collectors are passionate about his artwork.” —
Powered by Froala Editor
