25th Jun, 2025 19:00
Modern & Contemporary Art
34
Zander Blom (South Africa 1982-)
Untitled [1.57]. †
oil on linen
Artwork date: 2011
Signature details: signed and dated on the reverse
Exhibited: Stevenson, Johannesburg, 'New Paintings', 27 October to 6 December 2011.
Literature: Blom, Z. (2013). 'Paintings Volume 1: Zander Blom', Johannesburg: Stevenson, illustrated on p.211
Exchange Rates*: USD 13572.54 – 19001.55
EURO 12334.13 – 17267.78
GBP 10379.89 – 14531.85
R250,000 - R350,000
Buyers Premium
oil on linen
Artwork date: 2011
Signature details: signed and dated on the reverse
Exhibited: Stevenson, Johannesburg, 'New Paintings', 27 October to 6 December 2011.
Literature: Blom, Z. (2013). 'Paintings Volume 1: Zander Blom', Johannesburg: Stevenson, illustrated on p.211
Exchange Rates*: USD 13572.54 – 19001.55
EURO 12334.13 – 17267.78
GBP 10379.89 – 14531.85
(1)
200 x 150 x 2.5 cm
Provenance:
Private collection, Cape Town.
Stevenson, Johannesburg.
† Vat is charged on both hammer and premium for daggered lots.
ABOUT THE ARTWORK
Untitled 1.57 is a powerful example of Zander Blom’s relentless exploration of the physical and expressive possibilities of paint. First exhibited in Johannesburg in 2011 as part of a pivotal new body of work, the painting marks a notable departure from Blom’s earlier use of raw Belgian linen. Here, bold grounds of undifferentiated colour – red, yellow, blue, green, purple or pitch black – set the stage for his complex and visceral mark-making.
Blom pushes paint to its extremes. Thick layers are smeared, scraped, poured and pulled across the canvas, creating a charged interplay between chaos and calm control. Slender tendrils of spilt paint sit beside precise brushstrokes, resulting in a surface that hums with energy while retaining compositional balance. As noted in contemporary reviews at the time, his surfaces seem to glow from within, where paint acts not just as an image, but as a compelling material presence.
This approach lies at the heart of Blom’s philosophy. For him, painting is a solitary, deeply considered process. Untitled 1.57 embodies this ethos: a work forged through artistic instinct, creative experimentation and a persistent curiosity about what paint can do.
Blom’s abstract language continues to captivate for its conceptual boldness and tactile immediacy. In an increasingly digital world, his expressive, material-driven abstraction feels both timely and timeless. His paintings are radical, refreshing, and intriguingly unconventional. These qualities make Untitled 1.57 a true collector’s piece: a confident, original work that commands sustained attention.
Marelize van Zyl
COLLECTIONS:
The artist is represented in numerous local and international collections, notably, the Mercedes-Benz Art Collection, Stuttgart; Societe Generale Collection, Paris and Iziko South African National Gallery, Cape Town.
The overall condition is excellent.
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Auction: Modern & Contemporary Art, 25th Jun, 2025
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