Strauss & Co is proud to announce What the Fook? The Life and Work of Walter Battiss, a historic first in South African art history. This is the first-ever single-artist auction dedicated solely to the work of the visionary and maverick South African artist Walter Battiss (1906–1982). Running as a timed-online sale from 12 to 30 June 2025, this unique auction will spotlight Battiss’s core practices – painting, printmaking, and drawing – in a career that spanned over four decades.
“What the Fook? celebrates the life and work of Walter Battiss, a protean and prolific figure in the story of twentieth-century South African art,” says Leigh Leyde, Head of Sale at Strauss & Co. “As well as being an important artist, Battiss was an influential teacher, archaeologist, critic and publisher… His spirit of renewal and optimistic worldview remains deeply resonant today.”
A Rediscovery of a South African Original
The catalogue explores Battiss’s evolution from 1938 to 1982, focusing especially on his dynamic Pretoria years. Notable works featured include:
- The Spirit of Africa (estimate R900 000 – R1.2 million)
A powerful figural diptych commissioned for a Kimberley residence. - Ndebele Village / Abstract African Figures (estimate R150 000 – R200 000)
A double-sided piece showcasing his mature figurative style. - The Early Men and Women (Cave) (estimate R15 000 – R20 000)
A pivotal 1938 work reflecting his archaeological influence.
Other highlights include rare screenprints and watercolours from the Murray Schoonraad and Robert Schröder collections – both former students of Battiss.
Fook Island: A Visionary’s Utopia
The sale delves into the fantastical world of Fook Island, Battiss’s imagined utopia created in the 1970s with its own language, history, and culture. This joyful rebellion against censorship and conformity became a lasting symbol of freedom in South African art.
Key Fook-related works in the sale include:
- Fook Island Map & Heraldry (screenprint, estimate R8 000 – R12 000)
- Orgy 4 (estimate R20 000 – R30 000), one of several works that test societal taboos
“Battiss wasn’t just eccentric—he was a deeply serious thinker and a dedicated artist whose influence on South African art is immeasurable,” says Leyde. “This sale is a celebration, a rediscovery, and an invitation to explore the genius of a truly original mind.”
Exhibition Details & Viewing
On View at Strauss & Co, Cape Town:
Monday 9 June – Tuesday 24 June 2025: 9am to 5pm
Weekends (by appointment):
- Saturday 14 & Sunday 15 June
- Saturday 28 & Sunday 29 June
Closed: Monday 16 June 2025
Public Hours: - Saturday 21 & Sunday 22 June | 10am – 4pm
View online catalogue: www.straussart.co.za
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JUNE 2025 | STRAUSS & CO SALES CALENDAR
The Engen Collection
Live Auction | 24 June 2025 at 2pm
Modern and Contemporary Art: Evening Sale
Live Auction | 24 June 2025 at 7pm
South African Design: Past and Present
Online | 13 – 25 June 2025
What the Fook? The Life and Work of Walter Battiss
Timed-Online Auction | 12 – 30 June 2025
The Mary Eleanor Hibbert Collection
Online | 14 June – 9 July 2025
Browse all sales: straussart.co.za/auctions
