RESULTS: Art and Wine Auctions, June 2025

William Kentridge, Iris

SOLD FOR R5,718,750 (Record for an Iris at Auction)

The auction featured a collection of 97 carefully selected artworks by leading South African, African, and international artists from the modern and contemporary periods. The standout result was the sale of Iris (1997) by William Kentridge, which achieved R5,718,750, the highest price ever achieved at auction for an Iris. Large-scale works of this kind by Kentridge are seldom seen on the open market, making this a landmark result.

The sale also marked an important moment for six emerging and established international artists making their auction debut in South Africa. Among them, Kenyan artist Collin Sekajugo’s Father’s Daughter sold for R164,150, setting a new auction record for the artist. This reinforces our ongoing role in establishing benchmark values for contemporary art from Africa, its diaspora, and international voices aligned with its trajectory.

Collin Sekajugo, Father's Daughter

SOLD FOR R164,150

A special highlight of the auction was With Love, Robert Hodgins: Artworks from the Studio, a dedicated section honouring the formidable South African artist. This included several previously unseen works, most importantly Une Saison en Enfers (c. 2002), which achieved R693,150.

Robert Hodgins, Une Saison en Enfers
SOLD FOR R693,150.

Significantly, 67% of registered bidders were based in South Africa, an encouraging sign of continued vitality within the local collector base. This strong level of domestic engagement signals sustained confidence in the art market and reflects the deepening interest in quality collecting opportunities. International bidding also remained robust, with participation from Nigeria, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Switzerland, and the United States. Notably, 33% of winning buyers were new to Aspire, underscoring our expanding reach and appeal.

Our commitment to responsible art trading remains evident in our rigorous valuation process and the intentionally curated selection of works offered. This strategic approach supports both market confidence and price stability, with 77% of works selling within their estimated ranges.

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Diarise our next live auction taking place in Johannesburg on 10 September 2025. If you are considering selling works from your collection, our specialists are ready to provide expert valuations, tailored guidance and a personalised sales strategy.

Raise a Glass

(100-points!) Kanonkop; Porseleinberg; Sadie Family Wines; Sadie Family Wines; Alheit Vineyards,
Paul Sauer; Syrah; Skurfberg; Columella; Nautical Dawn, 2015-2023
SOLD FOR R64,488

On 12 June, Aspire Art launched its new, dedicated Wine category in partnership with Rueda Wine Co.

Our inaugural wine auction, The Grand Pour: Rare & Premier Wines, generated significant enthusiasm and achieved exceptional results, with competitive bidding reflecting strong demand for the finest vintages from South Africa’s most coveted 100-point wines, top-ranking labels and international icons. 

This success marks a strategic expansion into a market segment that complements our vision to offer collectors access to the finest in art, wine, and other high-value assets and passion investments.

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Watch this space! Exciting plans are underway for our next auction, set to take place this spring.

We thank all our clients who entrusted us with handling their artworks and wine, and all the bidders who participated in the auctions.  We're looking forward to a vibrant third quarter filled with auctions, exhibitions, private sales, and tailored advisory services, partnering with our clients to build meaningful, lasting collections of value.

AUCTION & GENERAL ENQUIRIES  

Cape Town: ct@aspireart.net | +27 21 418 0765  
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