Sotheby’s First Dedicated Sale of Modern and Contemporary African Art, London, 16 May 2017 Pre-sale exhibitions in Paris, Johannesburg, Cape Town, New York and London Works by over 60 different artists from 14 countries across the continent: Algeria (North Africa), Benin, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Mali, Nigeria and Senegal (West Africa), Ethiopia and Uganda (East Africa), Cameroon and Democratic Republic of Congo (Central Africa), Angola, South Africa and Zimbabwe (Southern Africa). Hannah O’Leary, Sotheby’s Head of Modern and Contemporary African Art: “The marketplace for modern and contemporary art from Africa has transformed dramatically over the past decade, but despite this long-overdue correction, there’s still a considerable way to go towards addressing the underrepresentation of African artists, who account for just 0.01% of the international art market.

In recent years, I’ve seen an exponential increase in market demand from collectors in Africa and the African diaspora, as well as international art collectors and influencers who are embracing art from Africa as exciting, innovative and relevant. Sotheby’s entry to the market is in direct response to its current strength and its even greater potential over the coming years. In our sale, you’ll find works by the giants of Modern and Contemporary African Art, who’ve established auction prices over $1 million, alongside little-known artists who have never, or barely, appeared at auction before. This is our opportunity to redress some of the current price anomalies; to identify those artists who we think currently undersell but have huge potential.

Modern and Contemporary African Art spans many different decades, themes, cultures and geographies - we’re not suggesting that the art included in our sale forms one cohesive body, but hope that the auction and our international exhibitions will provide a fresh platform for these artists, attracting the interest of new collectors and enthusiasts who have not yet explored this field.”

SALE HIGHLIGHTS

LEONCE RAPHAEL AGBODJELOU
(Beninese)
Untitled (Demoiselles de Port- Novo Series), 2012
C-print, 180 by 130cm £4,000-6,000 / US$ 5,000-7,500
No works by the artist have ever been sold at auction before.

EL ANATSUI (Ghanaian)
Earth Developing More Roots, 2011
aluminium bottle caps and copper wire, 320 by 338cm £650,000-850,000 / US$ 810,000- 1.06 million
El Anatsui’s work is included in the permanent collections of public institutions worldwide, including the Guggenheim, LACMA, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, MoMA and Tate Modern.
Auction record US$1.4 million (Sotheby’s NY, 2014)

BEN ENWONWU (Nigerian) Ogolo, 1987
gouache, pen and ink on cardboard, 29 by 21cm £60,000-80,000/US$62,500- 99,500
Auction record £361,250 (Bonhams London, 2013).

MESCHAC GABA (Beninese)
Le Pavé dans la Mère, 1999 Textile and coins, 220 by 120cm £20,000-30,000/ US$24,900- 37,300
Auction record US$6,750 (Sotheby’s Amsterdam, 2010)
Artist offered at auction fewer than 10 times before.

WILLIAM KENTRIDGE (Beninese) World On Its Hind Legs, 2010 CorTen rust finish steel, 71 by 42 by 61 cm
£70,000-90,000 / US$ 87,000- 112,000
Auction record US$1.5 million (Sotheby’s NY, 2013).

ABDOULAYE KONATÉ (Malian) Composition No. 25 (Soleil), 2015 Textile, 189 by 107cm £10,000-15,000 / US$12,500- 18,700
Auction record £31,250 (Bonhams London, 2015).
Artist offered at auction just three times before.

WOSENE WORKE KOSROF
(Ethiopian)
Beauty of Your Own IV, 2011 acrylic on linen, 106 by 106cm £20,000-30,000 / US$24,900- 37,300
Auction record $22,500 (Phillips NY, 2010).
Artist offered at auction fewer than 10 times before.