Gallery awaits word on disputed Hotere works

The art gallery which planned to sell a number of Ralph Hotere artworks last year is still hoping the sale will go ahead after a dispute between the artist and vendor was settled last week.

Hotere, took a court case to stop the sale of 60 of his works allegedly given to friend Annette Asher more than 40 years ago.

The planned auction of the collection This Land, at Auckland's Art + Object gallery, was cancelled just before it was to take place in September.

A settlement was brokered between the two parties in private in the High Court at Wellington last week, but it is still not clear if any of the works will be sold.

There was no news at the moment, "but I'm anticipating there will be", gallery director Ben Plumbly told NZPA. "We are waiting to hear what she wants to do."

He said he hoped to know in the next few days.

Hotere, 78, was said to have given the works to Ms Asher, formerly Ferguson, in 1968. The auction catalogue said the works produced from 1957 to 1968 - including screenprints, drawings and paintings - were "gifted to his friend and colleague" but the planned court action was understood to concern ownership or the terms on which they were given.

High Court rules for court-assisted settlement negotiations say the parties cannot disclose any statements made during a settlement conference.

Despite earlier media reports which described Ms Asher as owner of Art + Object, Mr Plumbly said she had no connection with the gallery, other than as a potential vendor.