Strauss & Co, Africa’s leading auction house, is set to captivate art enthusiasts with its flagship live sale, showcasing museum-quality works by icons of South African modernism. Scheduled for Tuesday, 27 May 2025, in Johannesburg, the sale aligns strategically with the international modern art sales calendar in May.
Highlights of the Sale
• Gerard Sekoto’s The Mother on the Road (Estimate: R2 – 3 million / $106,670 – 160,005) – A significant rediscovery from Sekoto’s pre-exile period, capturing a poignant family scene. Previously exhibited in his 1989 retrospective at the Johannesburg Art Gallery, a self-portrait from the same era is currently on view in Paris Noir at the Centre Pompidou, Paris.
• Vladimir Tretchikoff’s Lady from the Orient (Estimate: R5 – 7 million / $266,790 – 373,534) – A quintessential 1950s portrait radiating Eastern mystique, this artwork solidifies Tretchikoff’s legacy as a global pop-cultural icon.
• Irma Stern’s Still Life with Lemons (Estimate: R2 – 3 million / $106,670 – 160,005) – Painted in 1954, this work exemplifies Stern’s late-career brilliance, showcasing her vibrant palette and expressive brushwork. Stern’s works will be featured in a major solo exhibition at the Brücke Museum, Berlin, in July 2025.
• George Pemba’s Early Works – Three early paintings that underscore Pemba’s evolving influence, with expectations to surpass the R1 million mark as his market continues to ascend.
• JH Pierneef’s Piesanghoek, Soutpansberg (Estimate: R2.5 – 3.5 million / $133,260 – 186,700) – A magnificent work from the publisher JL van Schaik’s collection, with a historic appearance in JFW Grosskopf’s 1947 monograph.
Other notable consignments include rare pieces by Dumile Feni, Robert Hodgins, Dorothy Kay, William Kentridge, and Cecil Skotnes. Kentridge is represented by a bronze and an early drawing from his Masked Ball series, coinciding with his first major international sculpture survey at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park in late June.
“Strauss & Co continues to champion the legacies of South African modernists,” says Alastair Meredith, Head of Art Department, Strauss & Co. “Our April sale is a testament to our enduring commitment to showcasing world-class works by pivotal artists whose narratives resonate both locally and globally.”
Exhibition Details:
- RMB Latitudes Art Fair, Shepstone Gardens, Johannesburg (23–25 May 2025)
- Strauss & Co’s Houghton Salesroom, Johannesburg (13–26 April 2025)
Both exhibitions will include specialist-led walkabouts, offering insights into the works on display and the stories behind them.
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