London – Works by William Kentridge, Irma Stern, Ben Enwonwu and Marlene Dumas attracted strong bidding in the Modern and Contemporary African Art sale in London on 16 October 2024, with the 76-lot sale achieving £2,439,400

William Kentridge (South African, born 1955) Monument I

  • The top lots were Zululand by Irma Stern (1894-1966) which made £508,400 (estimate 400,000 – 600,000)
  • Monument I by William Kentridge, made £483,000 against an estimate of £200,000 – 300,000. The charcoal drawing is taken from Kentridge’s second Drawings from Projection film, Monument (1990).
  • FESTAC’77 by Ben Enwonwu (1917-1994) achieved £444,900 (estimate £300,000 – 500,000); and other works in the sale by the artist: Ogolo made £245,000, beating its top estimate of £150,000, Agbogho Mmuo, 1979, made £35,000 (estimate £30,000 – 50,000), while early work Dancers from February 1940 made £25,000 (estimate £20,000 – 30,000).
  • ‘Billy Holiday, 1993’ by Marlene Dumas, an ink on paper work comprising six portraits of the American singer Billie Holiday, achieved £152,000 (estimate £80,000 – 120,000).

Helene Love-Allotey, Head of Modern and Contemporary African Art Department, said: “We are delighted that our major lots performed so well, in particular the spectacular charcoal drawing by William Kentridge that attracted so much attention at our preview and which surpassed its high estimate. The strongest sections of the auction were works by South African and Nigerian artists which shows the commitment by the ever-broadening collector base.”

FESTAC ‘77 by the revered master of Nigerian art, Ben Enwonwu, achieved £444,900 (estimate £300,000 – 500,000)

Irma Stern (South African, 1894-1966) Zululand (framed) Estimate 400,000-600,000