4th edition of Modern and Contemporary East African Art Auction on February 27 in Nairobi

The Next Modern and Contemporary East African Art Auction by the Circle Art Agency will take place on Monday, February 27, 2017 in Nairobi.

This year, Circle has selected 54 modern and contemporary artworks from both the secondary and primary markets from 7 countries: Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Sudan, Ethiopia, and new this year, Seychelles and Zimbabwe. 

“As the first and only commercial art auction in East Africa, the last three editions have put East African art on the map. This has helped to build a new collector base and increased recognition for artists from this previously neglected region. The auction brings together international and local art collectors with a passion for African art and who see the investment potential of this emerging art market.” says Danda Jaroljmek, Founder and Director, Circle Art Agency

This 4th edition follows the success of 2015’s auction, which was the most successful by recording gross sales of over 19.5 million shillings with 4 lots fetching more than 1 million shillings each, proving there is a healthy art market in the region.

This year Circle has selected lots that are rare investment art from as early as 1958, current work from the most promising contemporary artists in the region, and artists whose work we have not presented before.

Rare works included in the auction are: A unique Jak Katarikawe from the 80s of a jealous young girl spying on her friend’s love tryst; an exquisite watercolour from Iranian/Zanzibari-born artist, Ali Hussein Darwish, who studied at Slade in London and taught at Makerere in the 70s; a sculpture in Vermont marble by Kenya’s Gakunju Kaigwa from the 90s when he was studying in the USA; and, a large highly collectible George Lilanga painting in mint condition.

One of the new artists to this year’s auction is Ugandan sculptor and professor at Makerere University, Lilian Nabulime, whose sculptures capture the conversations and expressions she observes in her society.  Also, the stars of our previous auctions are back: the late Eli Kyeyune from Uganda with an intimate and classic portrait, and, we are presenting a drawing by Ethiopia’s Dawit Abebe for the first time.