Strauss & co - Review 2019

“The broad interest in photography at our second contemporary art sale was really encouraging and marks an important consolidation,” said Bina Genovese, who expressed particular delight at the performance of Ruga’s work. “Milestones are only ever achieved once at auction. Strauss & Co is truly proud to be the first auction house in South Africa to sell a photograph for over R1 million.” Works by contemporary artists continue to feature in Strauss & Co’s four live sales. Georgina Gratrix, Zanele Muholi, Sam Nhlengethwa, Athi-Patra Ruga and Lionel Smit delivered solid earnings at the company’s May sale. Strauss & Co established a new world record for Ruga’s tapestries when a 2010 work about Xhosa initiation, Ilulwane ... he’s not one of youz , sold for R477 960, well above estimate. At the same sale Aikman’s captivating 2017 seascape, South Atlantic , sold for R500 720, also a world record. The offerings for Strauss & Co’s forthcoming contemporary art sale, due to be held in Cape Town on 15 February 2020, indicate broad acceptance of this sale. The 102-lot sale includes a session devoted to photography, a strong selection of paintings, and a striking consignment of pan-African work from a South African collector. Strauss & Co is committed to continue strengthening the secondary market for contemporary art, and in so doing supporting the primary market. In summary: • Contemporary art is a rapidly maturing proposition among collectors • Notwithstanding a proliferation of media, contemporary painting is a popular genre and asset class • Collector appetite for photography continues to grow exponentially • Athi-Patra Ruga, who is better known for textiles and performance work, was the first artist in South Africa to sell a photograph for more than R1 million • Contemporary art collectors are globalists, not nationalists Athi-Patra Ruga Ilulwane ... he’s not one of youz Sold R477 960 World record for a tapestry by the artist Jake Aikman South Atlantic Sold R500 720 World record for the artist 32