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We simply couldn't pass up the opportunity to attend one of Strauss & Co's pre-auction exhibitions at their Houghton showroom. Not only is it an opportunity to see some seriously impressive, museum-quality works before private collectors buy them, but the curation is also always beautifully considered.
Strauss & Co's November 2024 auction is broken up into four parts, reflected in the four distinct exhibitions in the space. The showstopper is Rough & Smooth: A Focus on Surface and Texture, which brings together an unusual collection of work, the likes of which we've not yet seen at Strauss & Co. It's highly tactile, as the name suggests, and you'll find yourself wanting to reach out and touch what's on display.
Nothing is accidental in the presentation of the works that comprise Rough & Smooth: William Kentridge, Karel Nel, and Edoardo Villa share the entrance wall in black, white, and shadows. Notably, there are several woven (or weaving-adjacent) pieces in this collection, not least of which is the monumental and utterly mesmerising tapestry by Mary Shabalala and Judith Memela – members of the Rorke's Drift Art and Craft Centre in its heyday – titled Life of Shaka. There are also works in mosaic, ceramic, wood, charcoal, and bronze.
The other three parts of Strauss & Co's November 2024 auction include The Everard Group, as well as the Day Sale and Evening Sale. Big names in these lots include Irma Stern, Esther Mahlangu, Walter Battiss, and David Goldblatt. We were thrilled to see new names among these stalwarts, too, including contemporary artists Georgina Gratrix and Athi-Patra Ruga. A truly multigenerational line-up.
We've picked out 12 works that you have to linger over – and there are many more – when you visit Strauss & Co's November 2024 pre-auction exhibition. Discover the stories behind them here.
Dates to diarise
From Mon, Oct 28 – Mon, Nov 11. Strauss & Co's pre-auction exhibition can be viewed at its Houghton showroom. Weekdays from 09:00 – 16:00 and weekends from 10:00 – 16:00.Fri, Nov 8 from 15:00. Join senior art specialist and head curator Wilhelm van Rensburg for The Everard Talk. Strauss & Co specialists host two additional walkabouts on Sat, Nov 9 at 11:00 and Sat, Nov 10 at 11:00.
Mon, Nov 11. The timed online auction for the Day Sale (register to bid) closes at 14:00, while the timed online auction for The Everard Group (register to bid) closes at 19:00.
Tue, Nov 12. The live virtual auction for Rough & Smooth: A Focus on Surface and Texture (register to bid) kicks off at 17:00, while the live virtual auction for the Evening Sale (register to bid) begins at 19:00.
