Vladimir Tretchikoff's 'Race horses'.
Vladimir Tretchikoff's 'Race horses'.
Image: Supplied/Aspire Art Auctions

To end the year on a high note, Aspire Art Auctions will present an exciting sale of modern and contemporary art in November.

Not to be missed, the auction will offer a fresh and carefully curated selection of landmark artworks coveted both for their rarity and artistic excellence.

Some of the many highlights include a rare set of watercolours by modern master George Pemba. A recent exhibition of Pemba’s work at Cape Town’s Norval Foundation has nudged art lovers to take renewed note of his greatness, leading to a high demand for his work.

A ground-breaking exhibit at the Norval Foundation has also placed Wim Botha on savvy collectors’ radars. They'll have the chance to bid on one of his much-coveted contemporary constructivist sculptures, A Thousand Things part 101. 

Several monumental pieces by iconic sculptor Eduardo Villa will also be auctioned; most notably the colossal 1976 work, Three Personages, which can be read as a modernist monument to the youths portrayed in the historic photograph of Hector Peterson taken during the Soweto uprising.

Lots by sure-bet painters include Vladimir Tretchikoff's large equestrian study, Race Horses, and Irma Stern's Still life with roses, blue bowl and the artist's brushes in a pot. Estimated at between R3.5m and R4m, this marvellous painting embodies all the pedigree that has earned Stern renown as the country’s most valuable painter.

Irma Stern's 'Still life with roses, blue bowl and the artist's brushes in a pot'.
Irma Stern's 'Still life with roses, blue bowl and the artist's brushes in a pot'.
Image: Supplied/Aspire Art Auction
Kate Gottgens' 'The Abstractor'.
Kate Gottgens' 'The Abstractor'.
Image: Supplied/Aspire Art Auctions

Kate Gottgens is often regarded as her generation’s answer to tested painterly voices such as Stern. Her large painting, The Abstractor, arrives in the sale fresh from a show at Sydney Contemporary in Australia.

The largest Simon Stone painting to ever come to auction will also be going under the hammer. Titled The History of Bush Fires, this piece perfectly plays up the contrasts between representation and abstraction shining a light on why famed artist William Kentridge refers to Stone as SA’s best painter.

Kentridge himself will be represented in the sale with works titled If You Have No Eye, Triumph of Bacchus and Ubu Tells the Truth — a series of eight superb images forming part of the 15 lots from the collection of the multi-award-winning production house, Handspring Puppet Company.

A total of 26 works from the Handspring Puppet Company's art collection are going under the hammer.
A total of 26 works from the Handspring Puppet Company's art collection are going under the hammer.
Image: Supplied/Aspire Art Auctions

Art lovers are invited to join this pre-eminent puppet company's artistic director, Adrian Kohler, and executive producer, Basil Jones, for a Zoom webinar at 6pm on November 24. The pair will unpack their approach to collecting and reveal what inspired them to acquire some of the 26 works being auctioned, which include those by Pemba, Stone and Zanele Muholi.

Muholi is just one of the talented contemporary photographers whose work has been included in the sale. Others are Billy Monk, Bonile Bam, Jac de Villiers, Mikhael Subotzky and Patrick Waterhouse.

There's also a glorious selection of ceramics by renowned potters such as Lucinda Mudge, Robert Hodgins, Noria Mabasa, Josephine Ghesa and Petros Gumbi.

Prospective bidders are invited to preview works at Aspire’s stunning new offices and gallery space at 32 Bolton Road in Parkwood, Joburg, where they will be on exhibition daily from November 24 to 30 November, 9am to 5pm.

The live auction is taking place on at 6pm on November 30 at the gallery. Buyers are welcome to attend in person, or bid via telephone or using Aspire’s real-time online bidding platforms.

A fully illustrated auction catalogue can be downloaded here. For more information, visit aspireart.net

*This article was paid for by Aspire Art Auctions.

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