The fall edition of Swann Auction Galleries’ African American Art sale is set for Tuesday, October 7 in New York City. The sale is poised to offer a robust selection of artists from the post-war and contemporary eras with exceptional examples of abstract paintings, assemblage and sculpture, and works on paper.
Elizabeth Catlett (1915-2012), The Sharecropper, 1968. Color linocut. Estimate: $30/40,000
Among the top lots is Norman Lewis’ 1951 abstraction Untitled (Exaltation), estimated at $700,000 to $1 million, as well as his 1944 oil Dishwasher (est. $120/180,000), and his watercolor and ink Subway Scene (est. $15/25,000). Other notable 20th-century abstract pieces include Charles Alston’s 1958 Blue Haze (est. $100/150,000); and a circa 1959 oil by Kenneth Victor Young estimated to fetch between $20,000 and $30,000.
“We are excited about our upcoming fall sale and the strength of this market,” says Nigel Freeman, Swann’s vice president and head of fine art. “Institutions and collectors alike are pursuing significant works. We are also seeing a widening interest in the range of artists in the market, with many strong debuts.”
Timothy Washington (b. 1946), Untitled, 1970. Assemblage and engraving on aluminum, 14 x 22 in. Estimate: $20/30,000
Ebony G. Patterson (b. 1981), …bearing witness…, 2017. Archival dyes on jacquard, with embroidery, hand-knotted threads and assorted embellishment. Estimate: $40/60,000
Freeman cites a 1968 color trial proof of Elizabeth Catlett’s Sharecropper, which hasn’t been to auction since 2017, as another major highlight in the upcoming sale. The artist’s best known image, the linocut has a presale estimate of $30,000 to $40,000. This iconic print is also featured in Catlett’s national touring retrospective at the Art Institute of Chicago.
“I am also excited about two highlights of mixed media by contemporary artists,” Freeman adds. “Noah Purifoy’s 2002 untitled assemblage of various found objects on board and Ebony G. Patterson’s …bearing witness…, 2017, archival dyes on jacquard, with embroidery, hand-knotted threads and assorted embellishments. These creative works epitomize their artistic experimentation and vision in their untraditional media.”
Bidding will be available through online platforms, absentee, phone and live in-person. A complete auction catalog and bidding information will be available at www.swanngalleries.com and the Swann Galleries app a month prior to the sale. —
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