A historically important Gerard Sekoto painting depicting Sophiatown, leads an exceptional consignment of works by ground-breaking black artists in Strauss & Co’s flagship live-virtual Evening Sale of modern and contemporary art in Johannesburg on Tuesday, 26 May 2026 at 7pm.
They include pioneer black modernists Gerard Bhengu and George Pemba and their successors, notably David Koloane, Ephraim Ngatane and Alfred Thoba.
“Our catalogue for the Evening Sale presents a characteristically diverse selection of first-rate works by artists active across the twentieth century into the present, from Maggie Laubser at Lake Garda in the 1920s to a century later Ruby Swinney in Cape Town,” says Alastair Meredith, Director and Head of Art Department, Strauss & Co. “Variety notwithstanding, there is a strong presence of Johannesburg artists in this sale, including William Kentridge, Robert Hodgins and David Goldblatt, as well as Amadlozi Group sculptors Sydney Kumalo and Ezrom Legae.”
Complementing the Evening Sale, the online-only Day Sale includes a focus on painterly abstraction in South Africa. The session features works by leading exponents of non-figurative painting until the present, notably Cathy Abraham, Jake Aikman, Bill Ainslie, Kevin Atkinson, Armando Baldinelli, Esther Mahlangu and Durant Sihlali. There are also excellent sculptures by Jackson Hlungwani, Peter Schütz and Usha Seejarim. The session concludes in staggered increments on Tuesday 26 May 2026 from 2pm onwards.
A preview exhibition of works from the Evening Sale, overseen by Wilhelm van Rensburg, Senior Art Specialist & Head Curator, Strauss & Co, is onview at Strauss & Co’s gallery at 89 Central Street, Houghton, until 27 May.
A small selection of works will also be on view at RMB Latitudes Art Fair at Shepstone Gardens, Johannesburg, from 22 to 24 May 2026. Strauss & Co is showing in the Mezzanine & Rooftop section.
Following the flagship Evening Sale, on Wednesday 27 May 2026 at 4pm, Strauss & Co will present Deep Roots: Selected Works from Stephan and Carmen Welz. This live-virtual auction comprises modern and contemporary art, Cape furniture, ceramics and a library of books on silverware assembled by the legendary South African auctioneer Stephan Welz and his wife Carmen Welz.
For more info, visit www.straussart.co.za
Strauss & Co will present a full programme of VIP events and talks linked to all these auctions:
Saturday, 23 May 2026
- Strauss & Co x Dan Corder at 12pm – Panel discussion focusing on South African Modernism
To book – Click here
- Walkabout at 3pm with the Strauss & Co Specialists
To book – Click here
Sunday, 24 May 2026
- Sunday Art Class at Strauss & Co at 10am with Jo Voysey
To book – Click here
- Walkabout at 11am with the Strauss & Co Specialists
To book – Click here
Strauss & Co Viewing Times:
Venue: 89 Central Street, Houghton, Johannesburg
Weekdays | 9am – 4pm
Saturday and Sunday 23-24 May | 9am – 4pm
