Preview the exhibition daily at Strauss & Co in Houghton from 10:00 – 16:00 on Mon, Oct 30 until Wed, Nov 8. The pre-auction exhibition for this particular auction is especially worth visiting, featuring artwork that has rarely been seen in public and some seriously museum-quality pieces. A fascinating selection that will soon disappear again from public view and into private collections, it's also a chance to spot affordable pieces that you can earmark for bidding on.
All events are free to attend, and you can even watch the live bidding with a glass of wine in hand on Mon, Nov 6 at 19:00 and Tue, Nov 7 at 19:00 at Strauss & Co. It's super exciting to watch it all in action.
Streamed directly from Strauss & Co's Johannesburg showroom in Houghton, the top auction house's signature Johannesburg Auction Week sale kicks off with an outstanding art auction, featuring highly covetable works by major modern and contemporary artists, as well as prints from South African studios.
You can register to bid in the auction and browse the auction catalogue online at straussart.co.za
What makes Strauss & Co's major art auctions particularly special are the many public events that accompany a sale, including walkabouts and online talks.
Events line-up
Monday, Nov 6 from 19:00
Defining Impressions: A Selection of Prints from South African Studios
Johannesburg Auction Weeks kicks off with a live virtual auction of 80 lots linked chiefly to six local studios including The Artists’ Press, Artist Proof Studio, The Caversham Press and David Krut Workshop. A phenomenal array of works on paper by William Kentridge gets in-depth treatment in this collection, providing a glimpse into his impressive career as a printmaker, alongside prints from other South African art greats Willem Boshoff, Blessing Ngobeni, Penny Siopis, Lady Skollie, Diane Victor and more.
Tue, Nov 7 from 19:00
Modern and Contemporary Art: Evening Sale
An overwhelming lot of fresh-to-market paintings, many unseen in decades, are part of this evening sale, with a major focus on landscapes. The breathtaking vision of Jacobus Hendrik Pierneef and his lesser-known contemporary Moses Tladi get their due, with vibrant works by Maggie Laubser, Alexis Preller and Irma Stern coming into focus. Bronzes by acclaimed mid-century sculptors Ezrom Legae and Sydney Kumalo lead a strong presentation of influential Amadlozi Group artists, including works by Cecil Skotnes and Edoardo Villa. More recent works by Marlene Dumas, Georgina Gratrix and Athi-Patra Ruga feature in this stellar line-up, too.
Wed, Nov 8 from 14:00
Modern and Contemporary Art: Day Sale
A day sale brings Johannesburg Auction Week to a close with a timed online sale of 82 lots. Mixed-media collage by Blessing Ngobeni and photos by David Goldblatt and Tracey Rose are some of the stand-outs in this collection. Continuing Tuesday's theme of landscapes are paintings by Gregoire Boonzaier, Pranas Domsaitis, Judith Mason, Erich Mayer and Walter Meyer, among others. Abstract works by Olaf Bischoff and Lucky Sibiya are available, while sculptures by Angus Taylor and Norman Catherine round out this vast and very special offering.
Delve deeper
Get ahead of Johannesburg Auction Week with video profiles on some of the studios participating in Defining Impressions, Strauss & Co's live virtual auction.
