Strauss & co - Review 2022

Southern African artists hold roughly half the market share of the total auction sales by African artists, according to a report by London-based analytics firm ArtTactic. The report further revealed that Strauss & Co is South Africa’s largest auction house, accounting for 57% of the Southern African auction market from 2016 to 2021. It also reported that Strauss & Co is the leading auction house for works by William Kentridge. Taking this positive message globally has been a priority for Strauss & Co. The company was the lead sponsor of the African Art in Venice Forum, a satellite event at the 2022 Venice Biennale. We also shared in the joy ofWilliamKentridge’s auspicious survey exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts by hosting a lecture series and two walkabouts of the exhibition for collectors in London. Strauss & Co is uniquely positioned as an auction house rooted in Africa. In a bid to underscore its commitment to art from the African continent, Strauss & Co launched a fortnightly news digest titled African Art Business Newsletter. This project forms part of a larger strategic initiative to diversify its portfolio to include modern and contemporary art from other parts of the continent. In February 2023, Strauss & Co will launch a new live auction focussed on pan-African art. Titled Curatorial Voices: Modern and Contemporary Art from Africa , this curated auction will feature works by modernist pioneers and contemporary trailblazers chosen by five curators from important art centres across the continent. This year we bid farewell to Vanessa Phillips. “VP”, as she is affectionately known, has been an indomitable presence at Strauss & Co since its beginnings in 2009 and an overall force for good. Vanessa has always led by example. Her wide range of expertise, commitment to excellence andwork ethic underscore what it takes to grow and thrive in the auction field. After nearly five decades, Vanessa has decided to retire. We thank her for her immense contribution and will treasure her legacy. Her association with Strauss & Co will however continue, as will her presence at important public events in 2023. These include two exhibitions, first in Cape Town and then Johannesburg, to mark the publication of a catalogue raisonné for the sculptures of Sydney Kumalo and Ezrom Legae by authors GavinWatkins and Charles Skinner. Strauss & Co, guided by Vanessa, is the chief sponsor of this book. The decision to sponsor this ambitious project, andmany others, is founded on a simple but steadfast premise. We relish our role as co-custodian of pioneering Southern African artists and love engaging with clients and sharing in their passion for art and wine. It is part of our DNA as a company. I would like to end by expressing our deep appreciation to all our employees and suppliers for their enthusiasm, commitment and passion for the business, for always looking for ways to become better and smarter, to go the extra mile. Finally, on behalf of the directors and staff, my sincere thanks and appreciation go to our clients for their on-going support and feedback. May 2023 be a rewarding year for all of us. 6