After a record-breaking African American Art sale at Swann Auction Galleries in October 2021, representatives are beyond excited to see what the new year brings for their March 31 auction of the same category. The upcoming sale, held in a virtual format, boasts about 235 lots by noteworthy African American artists.
“The market has been incredibly strong, and continues to grow despite the turmoil and difficulty of the last couple years,” says Nigel Freeman, director of African American art. “Our market has been very robust, with our last two sales being some of our best. We continue to see the growth of both contemporary artists that are very much a part of the art market, and artists that we’ve been building in the secondary market at auction. We’re excited to see what the new year brings.”
Norman Lewis (1909-1979), Untitled (Rhododendrons), ca. 1938. Oil on canvas, 42 x 54 in. Estimate: $350/500,000
One such “growing” postwar artist is Kenneth Victor Young (1933-2017), whose have work in the spring sale is titled Night Push, 1972. The piece, estimated at $50,000 to 75,000, depicts the artist’s signature, distinctive abstract style and is made with acrylic stains on canvas. “[The piece] has rich, vivid color and they have a sense of space, while being completely abstract” Freeman says. “They look like floating orbs.”
Freeman also notes that he’s excited to keep building on Young’s market, as they’ve already seen a record sale for a large piece in their October 2019 sale, totaling at $233,000. 
Ed Clark (1926-2019), Untitled, 1982. Color pastel, dry pigment and pencil, 53 x 65 in. Estimate: $100/150,000
Another significant piece to watch for is the Norman Lewis (1909-1979) painting Untitled (Rhododendrons) from circa 1948, estimating at $350,000 to $500,000. “Lewis’ striking organic abstraction is based on the rhododendrons plant from his New York studio,” Freeman explains. The artist was part of the New York abstract expressionist movement and was considered the only Black artist in the first wave of the genre. Freeman continues, “[Lewis] painted on large canvas in the 1960s and ’70s, making this smaller piece unusual. Also, works from the early abstract period are sought after and are very scarce.”
The painting is also significant in that it’s never been to market before, nor exhibited. It was gifted by Lewis personally to a prominent New York family and has remained in the family for several generations. 
Emma Amos (1937-2020), Untitled (Dancers), ca. 1983. Mixed media and collage, 49 x 37½ in. Estimate: $30/40,000
Another postwar top lot is the abstract painting Untitled, by Ed Clark (1926-2019), which is estimated at $100,000 to $150,000.The colorful pastel work, also made with dry pigment and pencil, illustrates his well-known technique involving a large brush or broom to create large gestural brushstrokes on big pieces of canvas. “He is quite prominent today,” says Freeman. “[The painting on auction] has beautiful layers of color and is a great example of his work. The size is quite exceptional as well.” 
Hughie Lee-Smith (1915-1999), Quandary, 1997. Oil on canvas, 50 x 46 in. Estimate: $40/60,000
Top lots from the contemporary section include Quandary, 1997, by Hughie Lee-Smith (1915-1999), that expertly demonstrates the artist’s stage quality scenes with figures that he accomplished late in his career. “We’ve sold pieces from across the span of his career,” says Freeman, “and this definitely part of his late body of work. His late work also has a quality of surrealism.” Other top lots in the contemporary section include Intolerancia, 1998m by Belkis Ayón (1967-1999), and Untitled (Dancers), 1983, by Emma Amos (1937-2020).
A bevy of other artists in the sale include Mehitta Ahuja, Barbara Bullock, Elizabeth Catlett, to name just a few. The sale will have many online platforms available, along with phone bidding. —
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