Lot 1 – 2013
Wanyu Brush (Kenyan, born 1947)
Christ in the Manger, 1990
Ksh 150,000–180,000
US$ 1,700–2,050
Sold Ksh 223,060
Circle held the first ever auction of contemporary art in Nairobi, Kenya on 5 November 2013 at the Villa Rosa Kempinski.
The 47 lots were selected from across the region; Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Sudan and Ethiopia, both from the primary and secondary market.
Some of the art under the hammer had not have been seen in public for decades, there were some hidden treasures that form part of Kenya’s cultural history dating from 1967 to 2013.
Over 90% of lots sold at a thrilling evening of art buying which saw over KSH 18.5 million go under the hammer.
Wanyu Brush (Kenyan, born 1947)
Christ in the Manger, 1990
Ksh 150,000–180,000
US$ 1,700–2,050
Sold Ksh 223,060
Simon Mpata (Tanzanian, 1942–1984)
Untitled, circa 1981–3
Ksh 120,000–170,000
US$ 1,360–1,930
Sold Ksh 258,280
Joseph Bertiers (Kenyan, born 1963)
The World’s Craziest Bar, 2013
Ksh 480,000–550,000
US$ 5,450–6,250
Sold Ksh 821,800
Ahmed Abusharia (Sudanese, born 1966)
Untitled, 2012
Ksh 160,000–200,000
US$ 1,820–2,270
Sold Ksh 223,060
Justus Kyalo (Kenyan, born 1972)
Paths of Rhythm Before Chaos, 2003–4
Ksh 550,000–700,000
US$ 6,250–7,950
Bought in
Behailu Bezibah (Ethiopian 1960)
To The Market, 2013
Ksh 40,000–50,000
US$ 455–570
Sold Ksh 187,840
Richard Kimathi (Kenyan 1971)
Mongooses (Kibera), 2009
Ksh 300,000–350,000
US$ 3,400–4,000
Bought in
Peter Ngugi (Kenyan, born 1979)
Untitled, circa 1998/9
Ksh 35,000–40,000
US$ 400–460
Sold Ksh 164,360
Peter Ngugi (Kenyan, born 1979)
Untitled, circa 1998/9
Ksh 35,000–40,000
US$ 400–460
Sold Ksh 187,840
Jackson Wanjau (Kenyan, born 1966)
Untitled, undated
Ksh 150,000–180,000
US$ 1,700–2,050
Sold Ksh 305,240
Samuel Wanjau (Kenyan, born 1938)
Weaver Bird, undated
Ksh 250,000–300,000
US$ 2,840–3,410
Sold Ksh 410,900
George Lilanga (Tanzanian, 1934–2005)
Nipeleke Hospitalini Mimi Naumwa Sana, before 1998
Ksh 90,000–130,000
US$ 1,020–1,480
Sold Ksh 305,240
Daudi Karungi (Ugandan, born 1979)
How about now?, 2012
Ksh 50,000–70,000
US$ 570–800
Sold Ksh 187,840
Jak Katarikawe (Ugandan, born 1938)
Untitled, circa 1975–80
Ksh 750,000–900,000
US$ 8,520–10,200
Sold Ksh 880,500
Peterson Kamwathi (Kenyan, born 1980)
Nchi 1 Barcode (Nchi Yetu Series) 2004–5
Ksh 100,000–150,000
US$1,140–1,700
Sold Ksh 375,680
Rosemary Karuga (Kenyan, born 1928)
Untitled, 1998
Ksh 50,000–70,000
US$ 570–795
Sold Ksh 258,280
Geoffrey Mukasa (Ugandan, 1954–2009)
Lady in Green, before 2006
Ksh 250,000–300,000
US$ 2,840–3,410
Sold Ksh 563,520
Yony Waite (Kenyan)
Hippo’s River, 2008
Ksh 200,000–250,000
US$ 2,270–2,870
Sold Ksh 352,200
Edward Saidi Tingatinga (Tanzanian, 1932–1972)
Untitled
Ksh 180,000–250,000
US$ 2,045–2,850
Sold Ksh 446,120
Tonio Trzebinski (Kenyan,1960–2001)
Untitled, no 6, 2000
Ksh 1,300,000–1,500,000
US$ 14,800–17,000
Bought in
Charles Sekano (South African, born 1943)
Untitled and undated
Ksh 280,000–350,000
US$ 3,180–3,980
Sold Ksh 469,600
Edward Njenga (Kenyan, born 1922)
Newspaper Vendor, 1967
Ksh 200,000–300,000
US$ 2,270–3,410
Sold Ksh 352,200
Edward Njenga (Kenyan, born 1922)
Vegetable/Fruit Hawker, 1968
Ksh 200,000–300,000
US$ 2,270–3,410
Sold Ksh 528,300
Ancent Soi (Kenyan, born 1937)
Untitled, 1982
Ksh 120,000–150,000
US$ 1,360–1,700
Sold Ksh 164,360
Sane Wadu (Kenyan, born 1954)
World Trade Center: New York series, 1988
Ksh 530,000–650,000
US$ 6,025–7,400
Sold Ksh 1,526,200
Fitsum Berhe Woldelibanos (Ethiopian, born1979)
Read me or not, 2012
Ksh 220,000–300,000
US$ 2,500–3,410
Sold Ksh 645,700
Allan Githuka (Kenyan, born 1965)
Election Time, 2013
Ksh 80,000–100,000
US$ 910–1,140
Sold Ksh 223,060
Eltayeb Dawel Bait (Sudanese, born 1968)
The Spirit of Faces, 2011
Ksh 680,000–800,000
US$ 7,725–9,100
Sold Ksh 880,500
Professor Elias Njengo (Tanzanian, born 1936)
Halloween In An African Perspective, 2003
Ksh 70,000–100,000
US$ 795–1,140
Sold Ksh 70,440
Mary Collis (Kenyan, born 1950)
False Bay Series, each painting is individually titled and dated, 2013
Ksh 180,000–200,000
US$ 2,045–2,270
Sold Ksh 293,500
Mazola Wa Mwashighadi (Kenyan, born 1964)
Selma Montgomery March, undated
Ksh 140,000–180,000
US$ 1,590–2,050
Sold Ksh 352,200
Sebastian Kiarie (Kenyan, born 1971)
My House Help, 2011
Ksh 300,000–350,000
US$ 3,410–3,980
Sold Ksh 610,480
Geoffrey Mukasa (Ugandan, 1954–2009)
Celebrations, circa 2006/07
Ksh 1,000,000 –1,400,000
US$ 11,360–15,910
Sold Ksh 1,761,000
Ephrem Solomon (Ethiopian, born 1983)
Left to right: The Poor Gambler; Untitled; The Gambler 4, 2013
Ksh 300,000–400,000
US$ 3,400–4,545
Sold Ksh 704,400
Samuel Wanjau (Kenyan, 1936-2013)
Dancing Warrior, circa 1978
Ksh 2,200,000–2,500,000
US$ 25,000–28,500
Bought in
Kivuthi Mbuno (Kenyan, born 1947)
Kamba Hunters, 2011
Ksh 550,000–650,000
US$ 6,250–7,390
Bought in
Evarist Chikawe (Tanzanian, born 1974)
Talkertive 1/4, undated
Ksh 20,000–25,000
US$ 230–285
Sold Ksh 88,050
Anthony Okello (Kenyan, born 1976)
Masquerade – The Epilogue, 2013
Ksh 600,000–700,000
US$ 6,820–7,950
Sold Ksh 880,500
Eria ‘Sane’ Nsubuga (Ugandan, born 1979)
Christ at Golgotha, 2013
Ksh 95,000–120,000
US$ 1,080–1,365
Sold Ksh 563,520
Annabel Wanjiku (Kenyan, born 1962)
Mother Nature and her Babies, circa 2001
Ksh 280,000–320,000
US$ 3,180–3,630
Sold Ksh 410,900
Joel Oswaggo (Kenyan, born 1944)
‘A man and his wife drinking their beer at the time of harvesting’, undated
Ksh 50,000–70,000
US$ 570–795
Sold Ksh 117,400
Joel Oswaggo (Kenyan, born 1944)
Untitled, undated
Ksh 50,000–70,000
US$ 570–795
Sold Ksh 105,660
Kamal Shah (Kenyan, born 1953)
Face to Face, 2011
Ksh 110,000–140,000
US$ 1,250–1,590
Sold Ksh 199,580
Paul Onditi (Kenyan, born 1980)
Half Life, 2013
Ksh 275,000–300,000
US$ 3,125–3,410
Sold Ksh 704,400
James Muriuki (born 1977)
Untitled, from the series Undefined Construction, 2012
Ksh 150,000–170,000
US$ 1,700–1,930
Sold Ksh 152,620
Ehoodi Kichapi (Kenyan, born 1982)
Benor or Beast of Burden, circa. 2009
Ksh 200,000–220,000
US$ 2,275–2,500
Sold Ksh 328,720
Michael Soi (Kenyan, born 1972)
Auction, 2013
Ksh 100,000–140,000
US$ 1,140–1,590
Sold Ksh 293,500