Increasing Global Interest in South African Art

Art lovers across the globe are vying for the best in local art and recently established Aspire Art Auctions, with its unparalleled expertise, fresh approach to the industry and astonishing results, is confirming the value of the South African art market. Aspire’s inaugural auction, held on 31 October 2016 at The Park on 7 in Hyde Park, set an impressive standard with a sell-through rate of over 75% across a focused 121 lots, totaling R33 733 818 in sales.
A packed house, supplemented by a stream of local and international telephone and online bidders, conducted by leading South African art auctioneer, Ruarc Peffers, led to competitive bidding and numerous broken records.

The cover lot, Alexis Preller’s exceptional Profile Figures (Mirrored Image), achieved over R7- million — the highest amount earned for the artist in 2016. Irma Stern’s beautiful Congolese woman sold for over R1.9-million, an impressive result for a gouache on paper. Aspire Art Auctions’ inaugural Cape Town sale
on 27 March 2017 at the Avenue, V&A Waterfront attracted wide-spread interest from the media and collectors alike, inspired by the new vision which Aspire brings to the market. Based on a curated approach, with fewer lots offered and a greater focus on quality, the promotion of critically engaged art, assembled with the acknowledged expertise of Aspire’s specialists, has increased the levels of interest amongst the pool of local and international collectors and
curators.

Aspire set various records: at estimates of R2,500,000–3,500,000, J H Pierneef’s A view across Fisherman’s Cove, Seychelles sold for R4,547,200, over four times the previous record for a non-South African subject. William Kentridge’s Grande Jeté, achieved over R2-million, and Edoardo Villa’s major sculpture, Vertical Composition, set a new record at R1,818,880. Exiled King, a definitive work from the early 1960s by Louis Maqhubela, sold for R341,040, more than three times his previous record. Albert Adams’ Untitled (Four Figures with Pitchforks), his first appearance at auction, reached R136,416. This important artist is being honoured with a solo exhibition at the Rupert Museum, curated by the former Director of the Iziko South African National Gallery, Marilyn
Martin.

Contemporary artwork also fared particularly well. David Brown’s Hanging Man sold for a record price of R227,360, three times his previous record, while Steven Cohen’s Chandelier sold for R176,204, seven times his previous record. Mohau Modisakeng, who is representing South Africa at the Venice Biennale 2017, achieved a record of R204,624 for his work Ditaola XV. Another major contemporary artist, Moshekwa Langa, doubled his previous record when his mixed media composition, she thought of him often, sold for R102,312. Praça de Touros IV (triptych) by Swazi-born Nandipha Mntambo sold for a record R125,048.

Auctions are held regularly in Cape Town and Johannesburg. For further queries, or for gratis and obligation-free valuations, please contact:
enquiries@aspireart.net
(011) 243 5243