ORIGINAL AFRICAN ART FOR SALE

FEATURED ARTISTS

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Undervalued Original Art

Rolph Scarlett

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36 x 24 Inches Each (3), 1947

BENTON GALLERY

Rolph Scarlett

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Expressionist Figures, c. 1952

BENTON GALLERY

Emil Bisttram

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Canyon Echo, 1939

BENTON GALLERY

Rolph Scarlett

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Surrealist Biomorphic Figures - 65x48 in., c. 1945

BENTON GALLERY

Keith Crown

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"Fifth Street Garden" 22 x 30 in., 1959

Keith Crown Estate Works

S. Nakadodos

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Nakadodos NFTs (asset backed example), 2021

Nakadodos NFTs

Rolph Scarlett

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Red Drip Painting, c. 1950

BENTON GALLERY

Rolph Scarlett

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City of Angels - mix media, 18x24 in., c. 1945

BENTON GALLERY

African Art

African art covers all African art (historic, modern and contemporary) created in sub-Saharan Africa through today.

 

African art relates to visually cultural artwork created by the native and/or indigenous people of the sub-Saharan continent including Masquerade (masks), metalwork, sculpture, figurines, jewelry, fiber art, paintings, installations, and others.

 

Wood carving was one of the primary sculptural art forms of sub-Sahara Africa and early European modernists were drawn to it because of its highly inventive approach to the abstraction of the human figure. Unlike the Americas where clay, stone and other more durable mediums were widely exploited, approximately 75 percent or more of early African art was made of wood which cannot withstand fire, termites, fungus and other destructive elements, thus explaining the loss of the majority of very early aspects of African heritage.

 

In 1906 Pablo Picasso was introduced to African art while at one of Gertrude Stein’s weekly salons where Matisse showed Picasso his newly acquired, sculpted wooden seated figurine that he had picked up at a curio shop on the way to the gathering. This was the first documented piece of Tribal art that Picasso had ever seen. The compact stylized figure, with its oversized upturned face, elongated torso and disproportionate short legs terminating in tiny feet so “impressed” Picasso that he “held it in his hands all night,” while discussing it with Matisse for quite “a long time.”

 

Max Jacob, a French writer, poet and critic of the period – one of Picasso’s first friend’s in Paris - was also present at Stein’s salon and related the following: “Matisse took a wooden statuette off a table and showed it to Picasso. Picasso held it in his hands all evening. The next morning when I came to his studio the floor was strewn with sheets of drawing paper. Each sheet had virtually the same drawing on it, a big woman’s face with a single eye, a nose too long that merged into a mouth, a lock of hair on one shoulder … Cubism was born.”

 

Today, Contemporary African artists, working in the post-independence era build upon the foundations of postcolonial life (with all its difficulties) and their vastly rich artistic heritage that has inspired some of the greatest artists history has ever witnessed. It is only recently that the prominent auction houses have begun to hold dedicated sales of Modern and Contemporary African Art works from the 20th and 21st centuries, thus demonstrating the infancy (and opportunities) of this new market, that is starting to seize global attention.

 

Early African Art styles include Tribal art, Primitive art, Classical period, Nomadic, Bushmen, Traditional and others – Modern and Contemporary art styles are influenced by virtually all modern styles including Cubism, Expressionism, Surrealism, Abstraction, Installation, Conceptual, Performance and Graffiti.

 

Notable modern and contemporary proponents include Ibrahim Mahama, Njideka Akunyili Crosby, Pascale Marthine Tayou, Mohau Modisakeng, Athi-Patra Ruga, El Anatsui, Irma Stern, Nicholas Hlobo, William Kentridge, Ben Enwonwu, Cheri Samba, Peju Alatise, Aboudia Abdoulaye Diarrassouba, William Joseph Kentridge, Nnenna Okore, Gonçalo Mabunda, Tracey Rose, Kudzanai Chiurai, Nástio Mosquito, Julie Mehretu, El Anatsui, Ibrahim El Salahi, Sokari Douglas Camp, Abdoulaye Konaté, Chéri Samba.

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