Inevitable Journey to Mars I by Simphiwe Ndzube (acrylic and mixed media on perspex print, 120 by 240cm)
Estimate R100,000 - R150,000
Following on from 2018's highly successful inaugural Contemporary Art Sale and coinciding with the Investec Cape Town Art Fair, top auction house Strauss & Co brings its second ever auction devoted entirely to contemporary art to Cape Town's V& A Waterfront on February 16.
This exciting art sale also coincides with news that Jack Ginsberg, noted Joburg-based collector and philanthropist, has joined the Strauss & Co board. The founding patron of The Ampersand Foundation (which runs a residency programme for South African artists in New York), Ginsberg is also a patron of the Wits Art Museum who holds his 700-piece Walter Battiss collection as well as his world-class collection of art books.
Artists to look out for at the Cape Town contemporary sale
A rare opportunity to buy extraordinary South African contemporary art on the secondary market, this exciting sale is a great chance for African contemporary art admirers to begin or build upon a collection. The auction catalogue of 107 lots is a veritable who's who of the contemporary South African art scene, including leading names such as Blessing Ngobeni, Wayne Barker, Penny Siopis, William Kentridge, Mohau Modisakeng, Mary Sibande, Minette Vari, Moshekwa Langa, Diane Victor, Robert Hodgins and David Goldblatt.
Among the works expected to draw some of the highest bids are a rare early student work by master portrait painter Marlene Dumas, a 122-metre tall oil painting titled Naked Man that carries an estimate of R1.5-R2 million. Other highlights also include an oil on canvas work, Landscape with Figures by one of the most highly valued South African artists Robert Hodgins that has an estimate of R800K-R1million.
Younger stars who are also expected to gather much interest include Georgina Gratrix, whose Bride Dressed as Cake is estimated at R100-R150K, Athi-Patra Ruga's instantly memorable photograph The Knight of Long Knives (estimate R250-R350K) and Tunisian painter Thameur Mejri’s huge abstract work Two Figures at War (estimate R180-R240K).
The Knight of Long Knives by Athi-Patra Ruga (archival ink-jet print on Photorag Baryta, dibonded
150 by 190cm).
Estimate R250,000 - R350,000
How to enter phone and absentee bids
If you can't be there in person to bid at the live auction, bear in mind that you can arrange with Strauss & Co to bid by phone or put in an absentee written bid for your chosen lot(s). By registering with the Strauss & Co team, the auction house will act on your behalf at the live auction in Cape Town following bids on your chosen lots. The entire auction catalogue can be viewed online at the Strauss & Co website.
The live auction takes place on Sat Feb 16 from 18:30. The pre-auction exhibition is open to the public at the Cape Town Cruise Terminal on February 14 and 15.
Set Adrift III by Jake Aikman (oil on canvas 170 by 290cm)
Estimate R150,000 - R250,000
Untitled 21, from the series…in this city by Mack Magagne (archival pigment ink on Innova Fibaprint matt paper, 40 by 60cm).
Estimate R20,000 - R30,000
Esselen Street by Banele Khoza (acrylic on canvas 61 by 91,5cm).
Estimate R15,000 - R20,000
