In all the talk about whether galleries are still useful sales models to artists, I think it's also worth talking about the role that auction houses seem to be playing in selling artwork. We tend to think of a Sotheby's selling off Van Goghs or ancient artifacts or Elvis memorabilia, but some living artists (unfortunately I can't dig up any names for you) are running their work through auction houses instead of galleries, obviously in smaller numbers than what a gallery can potentially sell.

I was interested in what people thought of this sort of opportunity, especially in terms of whether or not this could be a good way to stimulate interest in one's work among potential collectors.

Here's an online one I think is interesting:

http://www.igavel.com/aboutUs/emergingartists.php