August
Winter Collection: Modern & Contemporary Art and Books
Ends: Tue, 31st Aug 2021 19:00 Sale number: TO 31 Aug 21
Location: Online
Lots: 310
Aspire Art Auctions hosted our Winter Collection auction in August– a timed-online auction featuring a unique collection of modern and contemporary art, ceramics, collectables and books.
The sale ran from Tuesday 24–31 August and differentiated itself from previous timed-online auctions with its wide range of contemporary art alongside more historic works, multiples and editions, photography, sculpture, ceramics and an impressive selection of signed art books.
July
Aspire X PLP | African Photography Auction 2021
Ends: Tue, 27th Jul 2021 19:00 Sale number: PLP 27 Jul 21
Location: Online
Lots: 127
Catalogue: Download e-Catalogue
Catalogue: View e-Catalogue
The sale, presented in partnership with the Photography Legacy Project (PLP) – an organisation established to support the digitisation of photographic legacies in Africa – was the largest collection of African photography ever to come to auction. The auction showcased a diversity of subject matter – ranging from landscape to the interior, gender-based issues to surfing culture and the Covid-19 pandemic.
Notable inclusions were works by Zimbabwean photographer Tamary Kudita and young award-winning woman photographer, Lee-Ann Olwage who collaborated with Belinda Qaqamba Kafassie. Emerging photographers like Kongo Astronauts collective (DRC) and the documentary imagery of Etinosa Yvonne (Nigeria) added depth and diversity, while the older generation of established practitioners like David Goldblatt, Alf Kumalo and Ernest Cole also featured.
April
Autumn Collection
Sale number: TO 4 Apr 21 1
Location: Online
Lots: 309
This premier, large-scale, timed, online-only sale presented a wide range of contemporary art alongside more historic works, multiples and editions, photography, sculpture, ceramics and an impressive selection of signed art books for easy collecting.
Leading artists represented in the auction included Marlene Dumas, Jane Alexander and Walter Oltmann together with contemporary voices like Zanele Muholi, Nandipha Mntambo, Athi-Patra Ruga, Blessing Ngobeni, Gerhard Marx, Nicholas Hlobo and Nelson Makamo. Modern stalwarts included John Mohl and Edoardo Villa amongst others. Pieter Hugo, Mikhael Subotzky and Roger Ballen led the photography selection while new media works by Wayne Barker, Ed Young, Usha Seejarim, Turiya Magadlela and international star Damien Hirst also featured.
I AM FUNDA Fundraiser Auction
Sale number: FUNDA 20 Apr 21
Location: Online
Lots: 81
Aspire was a proud partner in the I AM FUNDA charity auction. The initiative aimed to raise funds for the FUNDA Arts Centre, to save and restore the iconic community centre and encourage organisations to support arts education in townships as a deserving focus of social responsibility projects. Proceeds from the auction directly benefited FUNDA and the artists who generously donated works. Artists included; Nandipha Mntambo, Sam Nhlengethwa, Kemang Wa Lehulere, Tracey Rose, William Kentridge, Penny Siopis, Esther Mahlangu, Deborah Bell, Clive van den Berg, Bambo Sibiya, Karel Nel, Mohau Modisakeng and Zemba Luzamba.
Editions: International Prints & Multiples
Sale number: TO 4 Apr 21 2
Location: Online
Lots: 84
A first to the local market, Editions: International Prints & Multiples was a special curated auction featuring editioned works by 20th century art legends like Alexander Calder, Antoni Tàpies, Henry Moore, Salvador Dalí, Robert Motherwell, James Rosenquist, Ernest Trova, Richard Smith and Victor Vasarely. It presented a unique opportunity for collectors to acquire works by sought-after, international artists.
March
Modern & Contemporary Art
Sale number: CT 4 Mar 21
Location: Cape Town
Lots: 113
Catalogue: Download e-Catalogue
Catalogue: View e-Catalogue
Aspire Art Auctions’ Cape Town sale proved that the market for African and international art continues to thrive despite the pandemic.
The top lot by value was Irma Stern’s Dahlias and fruit, one of the most outstanding paintings from her late period, which achieved an impressive R5,234,800. Marlene Dumas scored a sensational hit when her early painting, Score, sold for R3,414,000, and stellar results were also achieved for celebrated artists; William Kentridge, George Pemba, Gerard Sekoto and Peter Clarke, amongst others, with world records at auction set for contemporary artists Turiya Magadlela and Gerhard Marx.