Arts d'Afrique et d'Océanie - Auction Results

At the African and Oceanic Arts auction in Paris, December 14th, Sotheby's reported sales totals of over 12 million dollars.

Among the 78 lots sold (96 lots were offered) African Art world records were met for a Punu mask,  ivory pendant from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and a Yoruba/Nago horsemen.

Joaquin Torres-Garcia, Latin American Art Modernist

At Art Basel Miami Beach, I was in hot pursuit of examples of Latin American art masters.  I spent some time before a work by Joaquin Torres-Garcia.  Here is an example of a Torres-Garcia work, Dirigible, produced around the same time period as the work I saw, discussed by Marysol Nieves, Vice President of Christie's Latin American Art department.

Reflections on Art Basel Miami Beach - Valerie Cooper

An informative reflection on an experience I too am assessing. Enjoy.

Art Basel Miami Beach - Museum Missions Panel

Here's the panel on Public/Private: The Evolution of Museum Missions that might be of interest to you.  It was conducted on Friday, December 3rd at Art Basel Miami Beach.

Art Basel Conversations | Public/Private | The Evolution of Museum Missions from Art Basel Miami Beach on Vimeo.

Art Basel Miami Beach

Here's what I've been up to these last few days in south Florida: Art Basel Miami Beach+.

The panel that I arrived too late (9:30am) to attend should be a source of inspiration for all collectors.  Enjoy.

Collector Focus | Art Basel Miami Beach and South Florida: A Decade of Transformation



Art Basel Conversations | Collector Focus | Art Basel Miami Beach and South Florida: A Decade of Transformation from Art Basel Miami Beach on Vimeo.

Moshekwa Langa's Untitled, 2004

At the May 14th Fine Art Auction at Rago Arts and Auctions Center (Lambertville, NJ) Lot 712,
Moshekwa Langa's Untitled, 2004, a mixed media work on paper sold for
$ 2, 976.00.

The 30" x 22 1/4" piece was previously held in a private collection in New York.


Mr. Langa is a South African artist.

Joseph "Bertiers" Mbatia, Contemporary African Art Sales at Volta 7

Congratulations to Joseph "Bertiers" Mbatia whose work was collected four-fold by world-renown collector, Jean Pogozzi, at Volta 7, a contemporary art fair that exhibits emerging artists, and serves as a satellite fair to Art Basel.

Robert Rubin African Art Sale at Sothebys - Top Lots

At today's Robert Rubin Collection of African Art, at Sotheby's, a handful of lots surpassed the million dollar mark.  They include:

LOT 9: DOGON N'DULERI MALE ANCESTOR FIGURE, MALI NAME-PIECE OF THE MASTER OF THE SLANTED EYES, CA. 17TH - 18TH CENTURIES, WITH 1950S RESTORATIONS.  Estimate 200,000—300,000 USD; Sold for 1,022,500 USD

LOT 25: BAULE MALE STATUE, IVORY COAST.  Estimate 600,000—900,000 USD; Sold for 1,538,500 USD

LOT 37: YOMBE MATERNITY GROUP, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO.  Estimate 150,000—250,000 USD; Sold for 1,874,500 USD



LOT 49: SONGYE MALE POWER FIGURE, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO.  Estimate 150,000—250,000 USD; Sold for 2,098,500 USD





Sotheby's Sale # N08779, New York grossed total sale of 11,742,188 USD.

Confidence in the Art World Builds

The Wall Street Journal reports that confidence in the art market is building.  Some buyers and sellers of quality pieces are feeling more at ease with consigning.  In some instances, parts of the market mirror the highs of 2007.  Read The Art Market Snaps Back.

The 50 Top Art Collectors

Last week The New York Observer published an article and slide presentation on "The 50 Top Art Collectors." What insights does this article provide on the art market? on collecting? on artists?

Black Art in America has a dialogue about this topic that re-visits some key points on how the market is shaped. Black Art in America is a social network and resource site for art collectors and art professionals (artists, dealers, galleries, etc.) who focus on African-American art.

Please share your thoughts on this blog.

Art in the Atrium - January 28, 2011

From January 28 thru March 11, 2011, Art in the Atrium will hold its annual exhibition of African-American Art in Morristown, New Jersey. This year's theme is: Memories of Russell, in honor of the organization's founding board member, colleague, and friend, Russell Waldo Murray.
The opening reception will be held on Friday, January 28, between 6 and 9pm. The guest speaker is Dennis L. Forbes, author of Workspaces and Studios of African American Artists.

The exhibition and reception is free and open to the public.

Atrium Gallery
2nd. Floor thru 5th Floor
Admin &Records Bldg
10 Court Street
Morristown, NJ 07960

Posing Beauty: African American Images from the 1890s to the Present

The Newark Museum will be exhibiting Posing Beauty, an exploration of African American images found in the media with both historical and contemporary contexts, from February 2nd to April 28, 2011. Posing Beauty contains approximately 100 images drawn from private and public collections that look at understandings of beauty through the lens of aesthetics, race, class and gender in art and popular culture.

The exhibit draws its title from the book written by the exhibition curator, and noted historian of black photography, Dr. Deborah Willis, Chair of the Photography and Imaging Department at New York University, Tisch School of the Arts.

AQ/Art Quake Print Portfolio Project

The AQ/Art Quake print portfolio project will hold an opening reception on Wednesday, January 12, 2011, 6pm - 9 pm, at Renaissance Fine Art Gallery, 2075 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd, New York, NY, 10027, 212-866-1660. AQ/Art Quake is a group of internationally known artists who have contributed to a portfolio of contemporary prints available for collection. AQ/Art Quake honors Haiti’s history in artistic leadership and addresses the impact of the January 12, 2010 earthquake on the nation’s visual art community.

From colonial portraiture, to metal sculptures, to sequined flags, and to cinema, the visual artists and artisans of Haiti and its diaspora have established a vibrant and lasting impact on the international art market. AQ/Art Quake is designed to raise awareness of the plight of Haitian visual artists and artisans who are suffering the dreadful consequences of the earthquake, including the current cholera epidemic. In an effort to provide both artistic inspiration and humanitarian support, net proceeds of each portfolio sale will go to Haitian artists and artisans living in Haiti, impacted by these recent devastating events.

AQ/Art Quake is produced in an edition of 25. An informative brochure essay written by artist and writer, Andre Juste, accompanies the portfolio. Contributing artists include:

Terry Boddie V. Cybil Charlier Aurora DeArmendi Marlie Décopain Scherezade Garcia

Klode Garoute Rejin Leys Kathy Mooses Juana Valdes Didier William

Haiti Cultural Exchange is a co-sponsor of AQ/Art Quake. Sales of the portfolio will take place throughout 2011. To be notified of future AQ/Art Quake events, please send your email address to: rejinleys@yahoo.com or Vcybil@aol.com.