Aaron Douglass' "Emperor Jones"
Today, Swann Galleries in New York expects to rake in as much as $5.6 million on African-American art at their third auction organized by their new African-American Fine Art department. Artists, including Elizabeth Catlett, Jacob Lawrence, Charles White, Aaron Douglas, Faith Ringgold and Romare Bearden will be featured, to name a few.
Swann Galleries is the first major auction house to ever hold a stand-alone sale of African-American sculptures and paintings.
Todays auction will offer 250 paintings, drawings, collages, prints and sculpture from notable collections and estates by African-American artists.. Many of the pieces have been included in important museum exhibitions and illustrated in catalogues and monographs.
Wealthy African-Americans have been supporting and collecting art helping African-American artists break records and increasing the value of Black art.
Last year, Swann sold Elizabeth Catlett's "wooden torso" for $120,000 and this year Catlett's terracotta sculpture "Torso, Portrait of Joan" is estimated to sell between $200-250,000.
Five pieces from highly respected artist Hale Woodruff will be auctioned and the works range from $40K- 180,000.
One of my favorite pieces in the auction is from Harlem Renaissance artist Aaron Douglass', his woodcut gouache "Emperor Jones." I love how he blends African tribal with Art Deco. "Emperor Jones" is estimated to sale for between $35K-50,000.
It's amazing what people can get for their art. Maybe I should take up painting.
ReplyDeleteI really love the colors in the woman by the sea. I have not yet experimented with the Oils yet.
ReplyDeleteThe picture inspires me to get back to blending my colors and put and some music and see what comes out. Thanks