Kickstarting the 2023 program Aspire Art are delighted to present their first Live sale, 20th Century & Contemporary Art in March. The sale has become a highly anticipated event in the Cape Town auction calendar, showcasing and recognising works by truly exceptional artists from Southern Africa.
Contemporary highlights include seminal works by William Kentridge, Robert Hodgins, Sue Williamson, Johannes Phokela, Zander Blom, Athi-Patra Ruga, Dan Halter and Georgina Gratrix amongst others. International superstars include Pascale Marthine Tayou and Francisco Vidal. Photographic works feature prominently as a special section and include limited editioned prints by celebrated documentary photographers Alf Kumalo and David Goldblatt alongside incredible photographic works by artists like Mary Sibande, Ayana Jackson, Candice Breitz and the award-winning Mikhael Subotzky.
Leading the sale is a group of important and rare works by South African modern masters, most significantly a selection of expressive drawings by Dumile Feni and paintings by social realist George Pemba. The modern collection is complimented by a landscape painted by J.H. Pierneef and a beautifully rendered gouache by Irma Stern from 1951.
Preview: 10 to15 March
Mon-Fri: 8.30-4.30, Saturday: 10-2 or by appointment
Lot 1 - Louis Maqhubela (South Africa 1939-2021) Untitled
Sold for R238,980
Lot 2 - Lucky Sibiya (South Africa 1942-1999) The Crossing of the Bridge
Estimated at R80,000 - R120,000
Lot 4 - Speelman Mahlangu (South Africa 1958-2004) Riding the Bull, maquette
Sold for R102,420
Lot 5 - Cecil Skotnes (South Africa 1926-2009) Totems, diptych
Sold for R227,600
Lot 7 - Bettie Cilliers-Barnard (South Africa 1914-2010) Symbol of Man
Sold for R113,800
Lot 8 - Bettie Cilliers-Barnard (South Africa 1914-2010) Dawn of Civilization
Sold for R142,250
Lot 9 - Jacobus Hendrik Pierneef (South Africa 1886-1957) Landscape at dusk
Sold for R341,400
Lot 10 - John Meyer (South Africa 1942-) West from Middleburg
Sold for R85,350
Lot 11 - Jacobus Hendrik Pierneef (South Africa 1886-1957) Selatirivier, O. T.
Sold for R52,762
Lot 13 - George Pemba (South Africa 1912-2001) The Poet
Sold for R443,820
Lot 14 - George Pemba (South Africa 1912-2001) Breakfast
Sold for R250,360
Lot 15 - Trevor Makhoba (South Africa 1956-2003) Special Prescription
Sold for R91,040
Lot 16 - Dumile Feni (South Africa 1939-1991) Ecstatic Dance
Sold for R318,640
Lot 17 - Dumile Feni (South Africa 1939-1991) Study: head and hands
Sold for R30,485
Lot 18 - Dumile Feni (South Africa 1939-1991) Untitled (Kneeling figure)
Sold for R25,000
Lot 19 - Dumile Feni (South Africa 1939-1991) Figure: rear and front view
Sold for R25,000
Lot 20 - Dumile Feni (South Africa 1939-1991) Dog and man
Sold for R25,000
Lot 21 - Dumile Feni (South Africa 1939-1991) Composition: Figure and dogs
Sold for R25,000
Lot 22 - Walter Battiss (South Africa 1906-1982) Figures in a landscape
Estimated at R120,000 - R180,000
Lot 23 - Bettie Cilliers-Barnard (South Africa 1914-2010) Café de Paul
Estimated at R150,000 - R200,000
Lot 24 - Irma Stern (South Africa 1894-1966) Strawberry Pickers
Sold for R796,600
Lot 25 - Robert Hodgins (South Africa 1920-2010) A Day at the Office
Estimated at R500,000 - R700,000
Lot 26 - Esther Mahlangu (South Africa 1935-) Ndebele dwelling
Sold for R147,940
Lot 27 - Andrew Verster (South Africa 1937-2020) Musician with animals
Estimated at R80,000 - R120,000
Lot 28 - Helmut Starcke (South Africa 1935-2017) Thinking of Mouille Point
Estimated at R80,000 - R120,000
Lot 29 - Helmut Starcke (South Africa 1935-2017) Index, Sign and Symbol
Estimated at R60,000 - R80,000
Lot 30 - Serge Alain Nitegeka (Rwanda 1983-) Fragile Cargo II: Studio Study I
Estimated at R350,000 - R500,000
Lot 32 - Wim Botha (South Africa 1974-) Maquette for Wings II
Sold for R147,940
Lot 33 - Wim Botha (South Africa 1974-) Maquette for Wings III
Sold for R58,625
Lot 34 - Mary Sibande (South Africa 1982-) I am a Lady
Sold for R250,360
Lot 37 - Athi-Patra Ruga (South Africa 1984-) Somagwaza: Queenz Herald
Sold for R569,000
Lot 40 - Maurice Mbikayi (Democratic Republic Of Congo 1974-) Coucou Crumble
Estimated at R50,000 - R70,000
Lot 41 - Francisco Vidal (Portugal 1985-) Black Fire, New Spirits No.1
Sold for R121,500
Lot 42 - Meschac Gaba (Benin 1961-) Untitled 11 (from Colours of Cotonou)
Estimated at R30,000 - R35,000
Lot 43 - Meschac Gaba (Benin 1961-) Cadre peintre (from Colours of Cotonou)
Sold for R62,590
Lot 44 - William Kentridge (South Africa 1955-) Table with Sparrow (left hand)
Sold for R250,360
Lot 46 - Kate Gottgens (South Africa 1965-) Softly Fall
Sold for R68,280
Lot 47 - Georgina Gratrix (South Africa 1982-) Mom and Daisy
Sold for R108,110
Lot 48 - Georgina Gratrix (South Africa 1982-) Mr Nice to Meet You
Sold for R364,160