18th Jun, 2026 19:00
Modern & Contemporary Art - Evening Sale
4
Mmakgabo Mmapula Mmangankato Helen Sebidi (South Africa 1943-)
The Bone Throuwer. Naar Newcastle Natal SA (sic)
oil on board
Artwork date: 1984
Signature details: signed bottom left; signed, dated 4/8/1984, inscribed with the title and 'Tribe Zulu' on the reverse
Exchange Rates*: USD 3 600 – 5 399
GBP 2 698 – 4 047
EURO 3 100 – 4 650
Condition Report
The overall condition is good.
Please note, we are not qualified conservators and these reports give our opinion as to the general condition of the works. We advise that bidders view the lots in person to satisfy themselves with the condition of prospective purchases.
oil on board
Artwork date: 1984
Signature details: signed bottom left; signed, dated 4/8/1984, inscribed with the title and 'Tribe Zulu' on the reverse
Exchange Rates*: USD 3 600 – 5 399
GBP 2 698 – 4 047
EURO 3 100 – 4 650
(1)
23 x 30.5 cm; framed size: 25.5 x 33 x 3 cm
Provenance:
Private collection, Johannesburg.
Acquired directly from the artist.
COLLECTOR'S NOTE
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Helen Sebidi was selected to feature in In Minor Keys, curated by the late Koyo Kouoh, at the 2026 Venice Biennale.
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In 2024, Sebidi presented a solo exhibition, Ntlo E Etsamayang (The Walking House), at the University of Johannesburg Art Gallery from 6 April to 17 May and at the Everard Read gallery in Cape Town from 13 to 31 July. The exhibition included works that were presumed stolen for over 3 decades. In 1991, Sebidi travelled to Sweden’s Nyköping Folk High School for a residency, bringing her most significant works, which she entrusted to the school after a planned exhibition was postponed. Unfortunately, the artworks were thought stolen until they were unexpectedly discovered, still in their original packaging, in a concealed cupboard at the school in May 2023.
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Sebidi was recognised with a solo exhibition titled Batlhaping Ba Re! at the Norval Foundation in Cape Town in 2019.
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The artist has featured in international fairs and biennales, including the Biennial of Sāo Paolo, Brazil in 2019 and 2013; the Venice Biennale, Italy in 2001 and 2026; and the 4th Havana Biennial, Cuba in 1991.
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The artist was the first Black woman to win the Standard Bank Young Artist Award in 1989.
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Sebidi has been recognised with multiple awards, including the National Arts and Culture Life Time Achievement Award, South Africa (2025 and 2011); Order of Ikhamanga Silver Award given by the Presidency, South Africa (2004); and the Mbokodo Award, South Africa (2015).
COLLECTIONS:
The artist is represented in numerous local and international collections, notably, the National Museum of Women in the Arts, Washington D.C.; Smithsonian National Museum of African Art, New York, World Bank, Johannesburg Art Gallery; Javett Art Centre, Pretoria; Iziko South African National Gallery, Cape Town; University of Cape Town; University of South Africa, Pretoria and the University of the Witwatersrand.
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Auction: Modern & Contemporary Art - Evening Sale, 18th Jun, 2026
Currency conversions are based on the exchange rate at the auction's start time and date. Bidders should verify the current exchange rate on the day of the sale. All invoices and payments must be made in South African Rands.
IMPORTANT NOTICE:
Logistics
While we endeavour to assist our Clients as much as possible, we require artwork(s) to be delivered and/or collected from our premises by the Client. In instances where a Client is unable to deliver or collect artwork(s), Aspire staff is available to assist in this process by outsourcing the services to one of our preferred Service Providers. The cost for this will be for the Client’s account, with an additional Handling Fee of 15% charged on top of the Service Provider’s invoice.
Aspire Art provides inter-company transfer services for its Clients between Johannesburg and Cape Town branches. These are based on the size of the artwork(s), and charged as follows:
Small (≤60x90x10 cm): R550
Medium (≤90x120x15 cm): R1,100
Large (≤120x150x20 cm): R1,650
Over-size: Special quote
Packaging
A flat fee of R100 will be added to the invoice for packaging of unframed works on paper.
International Collectors Shipping Package
For collectors based outside South Africa who purchase regularly from Aspire Art’s auctions in South Africa, it does not make sense to ship artworks individually or per auction and pay shipping every time you buy another work. Consequently, we have developed a special collectors’ shipping package to assist in reducing shipping costs and the constant demands of logistics arrangements.
For buyers from outside South Africa, we will keep the artworks you have purchased in storage during the year and then ship all the works you have acquired during the year together, so the shipping costs are reduced. At the end of the annual period, we will source various quotes to get you the best price, and ship all your artworks to your desired address at once.
Aspire Art will arrange suitable storage during, and cost-effective shipping at the end, of the annual period.
Collections
Collections are by appointment, with 24-hours’ notice
Clients are requested to contact the relevant office and inform Aspire Art of which artwork(s) they would like to collect, and allow a 24-hour window for Aspire Art’s logistics department to retrieve the artwork(s) and prepare them for collection.
Handling Fee
Aspire Art charges a 15% Handling Fee on all Logistics, Framing, Restoration and Conservation arranged by Aspire.