Modern and Contemporary
Art Auction East Africa 2014

Villa Rosa Kempinski, Nairobi

3 November 2014 · 57 lots

Circle's 2nd Modern and Contemporary East African Art Auction built on the momentum of the inaugural sale, again bringing together modern and contemporary work from across the region for collectors in Nairobi and abroad.

Of the 57 lots offered, 48 sold — a sell-through rate of 84% — with total sales of KES 18,703,414.

The three highest prices were Geoffrey Mukasa's Nudes (Lot 10) at KES 1,526,200, Women by Sudanese painter Rashid Diab (Lot 18) at KES 880,500, and Francis Nnaggenda's Mother and Child (Lot 29) at KES 833,540.

Artist focus: Geoffrey Mukasa. The Ugandan painter topped the sale for a second consecutive year with Nudes (Lot 10), confirming him as the auction's most reliable name and beginning a run of appearances that would stretch across almost every edition to date.

Sponsors

Standard Chartered
Porsche
Villa Rosa Kempinski Nairobi
Moët & Chandon

Supported by

Safarilink
Gamewatchers Safaris
Kenya Airways

CATALOGUE

Showing 57 of 57 lots

Lot 1 — Fitsum Behre Woldelibanos, Lost in Space

Lot 1

Fitsum Behre Woldelibanos

Lost in Space, 2008

KES 300,000 – 400,000

USD 3,410 – 4,550

Sold KES 587,000

Lot 2 — Sane Wadu, Invisible Cat

Lot 2

Sane Wadu

Invisible Cat, Circa 87

KES 120,000 – 200,000

USD 1,365 – 2,300

Sold KES 164,360

Lot 3 — Edward Saidi Tingatinga, Untitled

Lot 3

Edward Saidi Tingatinga

Untitled, undated

KES 195,000 – 265,000

USD 2,200 – 3,000

Sold KES 410,900

Lot 4 — Fabian Mpagi, The Cattle

Lot 4

Fabian Mpagi

The Cattle, 1978

KES 480,000 – 530,000

USD 5,500 – 6,000

Bought in

Lot 5 — Jackson Wanjau, Untitled

Lot 5

Jackson Wanjau

Untitled, undated

KES 150,000 – 220,000

USD 1,700 – 2,500

Sold KES 164,360

Lot 6 — Samuel Wanjau, Untitled

Lot 6

Samuel Wanjau

Untitled, undated

KES 330,000 – 400,000

USD 3,750 – 4,550

Bought in

Lot 7 — Eltayeb Dawelbait, The Spirit of Advertising

Lot 7

Eltayeb Dawelbait

The Spirit of Advertising, 2014

KES 550,000 – 650,000

USD 6,250 – 7,385

Sold KES 587,000

Lot 8 — Charles Sekano, Untitled, between 1980-1990

Lot 8

Charles Sekano

Untitled, between 1980-1990

KES 280,000 – 350,000

USD 3,180 – 3,980

Sold KES 399,160

Lot 9 — Geoffrey Mukasa, Still Life

Lot 9

Geoffrey Mukasa

Still Life, 2000

KES 310,000 – 360,000

USD 3,500 – 4,000

Sold KES 399,160

Lot 10 — Geoffrey Mukasa, Nudes

Lot 10

Geoffrey Mukasa

Nudes, 2006/2007

KES 1,000,000 – 1,400,000

USD 11,360 – 15,910

Sold KES 1,526,200

Lot 11 — Zachariah Mbutha, The Chase

Lot 11

Zachariah Mbutha

The Chase, 2013

KES 90,000 – 120,000

USD 1,020 – 1,365

Sold KES 93,920

Lot 12 — Otiby, Ombararo

Lot 12

Otiby

Ombararo, 2013

KES 325,000 – 370,000

USD 3,700 – 4,200

Sold KES 446,120

Lot 13 — Paul Onditi, Helter Skelter

Lot 13

Paul Onditi

Helter Skelter, 2014

KES 300,000 – 400,000

USD 3,410 – 4,545

Sold KES 493,080

Lot 14 — Chelenge Van Rampelberg, Untitled

Lot 14

Chelenge Van Rampelberg

Untitled, undated

KES 360,000 – 420,000

USD 4,090 – 4,775

Sold KES 446,120

Lot 15 — Richard Onyango, Kangalika in 1968, dated 08, repainted 2014

Lot 15

Richard Onyango

Kangalika in 1968, dated 08, repainted 2014

KES 330,000 – 430,000

USD 3,750 – 4,885

Sold KES 422,640

Lot 16 — John Njenga, Untitled 1

Lot 16

John Njenga

Untitled 1, undated

KES 90,000 – 150,000

USD 1,020 – 1,705

Bought in

Lot 17 — Simon Mpata, Untitled

Lot 17

Simon Mpata

Untitled, undated

KES 130,000 – 190,000

USD 1,500 – 2,200

Sold KES 281,760

Lot 18 — Rashid Diab, Women

Lot 18

Rashid Diab

Women, 2013

KES 670,000 – 760,000

USD 7,600 – 8,600

Sold KES 880,500

Lot 19 — Thom Ogonga, Brothers Karamazov

Lot 19

Thom Ogonga

Brothers Karamazov

KES 110,000 – 160,000

USD 1,250 – 1,820

Sold KES 176,100

Lot 20 — Dawit Abebe, Background 4

Lot 20

Dawit Abebe

Background 4, 2014

KES 280,000 – 325,000

USD 3,200 – 3,700

Sold KES 704,400

Lot 21 — Francis Nnaggenda, Return or no Return

Lot 21

Francis Nnaggenda

Return or no Return, 2013

KES 217,000 – 250,000

USD 2,465 – 2,840

Sold KES 258,280

Lot 22 — Raza Mohammed, African Matisse Mask

Lot 22

Raza Mohammed

African Matisse Mask, 2001

KES 130,000 – 175,000

USD 1,500 – 2,000

Sold KES 187,840

Lot 23 — Gakunju Kaigwa, Seduction

Lot 23

Gakunju Kaigwa

Seduction, 1998

KES 950,000 – 1,500,000

USD 10,800 – 17,000

Sold post-auction

Lot 24 — Ephrem Solomon, It should not matter what colour you are or where you are from 2 and 3, sold as a diptych

Lot 24

Ephrem Solomon

It should not matter what colour you are or where you are from 2 and 3, sold as a diptych, 2014

KES 290,000 – 330,000

USD 3,300 – 3,750

Sold KES 422,640

Lot 25 — Naomi Wanjiku Gakunga, Kiambiriria-Genesis

Lot 25

Naomi Wanjiku Gakunga

Kiambiriria-Genesis, 2009

KES 1,030,000 – 1,470,000

USD 11,700 – 16,700

Bought in

Lot 26 — Gor Soudan, Stirring Attractions

Lot 26

Gor Soudan

Stirring Attractions, 2014

KES 100,000 – 150,000

USD 1,140 – 1,700

Sold KES 352,200

Lot 27 — Gor Soudan, Bubbles & Shells 3

Lot 27

Gor Soudan

Bubbles & Shells 3, 2014

KES 150,000 – 260,000

USD 1,700 – 2,950

Sold KES 645,700

Lot 28 — Michael Soi, Monday Morning

Lot 28

Michael Soi

Monday Morning, 2014

KES 175,000 – 260,000

USD 2,000 – 3,000

Sold KES 187,840

Lot 29 — Francis Nnaggenda, Mother and Child

Lot 29

Francis Nnaggenda

Mother and Child, 2002

KES 710,000 – 800,000

USD 8,000 – 9,000

Sold KES 833,540

Lot 30 — Rose Kirumira, Broken Gourd

Lot 30

Rose Kirumira

Broken Gourd, 2013

KES 130,000 – 160,000

USD 1,500 – 1,800

Sold KES 328,720

Lot 31 — Jak Katarikawe, Untitled, between 1999-2001

Lot 31

Jak Katarikawe

Untitled, between 1999-2001

KES 400,000 – 600,000

USD 4,500 – 6,800

Sold KES 422,640

Lot 32 — Kivuthi Mbuno, Untitled, between 1980-1990

Lot 32

Kivuthi Mbuno

Untitled, between 1980-1990

KES 120,000 – 180,000

USD 1,360 – 2,050

Sold KES 176,100

Lot 33 — Peter Elungat, Untitled

Lot 33

Peter Elungat

Untitled, 2001

KES 650,000 – 800,000

USD 7,385 – 9,100

Sold KES 763,100

Lot 34 — Rosemary N Karuga, Untitled

Lot 34

Rosemary N Karuga

Untitled, 1990

KES 120,000 – 180,000

USD 1,365 – 2,045

Sold post-auction

Lot 35 — Paul Ndema, Jane the Baptist

Lot 35

Paul Ndema

Jane the Baptist, 2014

KES 90,000 – 115,000

USD 1,000 – 1,300

Sold KES 164,360

Lot 36 — George Lilanga, Untitled (the businessman)

Lot 36

George Lilanga

Untitled (the businessman), undated

KES 110,000 – 175,000

USD 1,200 – 2,000

Sold KES 375,680

Lot 37 — Kizito Maria Kasule, The Legacy of Democracy

Lot 37

Kizito Maria Kasule

The Legacy of Democracy, 2013

KES 320,000 – 370,000

USD 3,600 – 4,200

Sold KES 352,200

Lot 38 — Bakri Bilal, Nilotic Dreams 2

Lot 38

Bakri Bilal

Nilotic Dreams 2, 2008

KES 325,000 – 370,000

USD 3,700 – 4,200

Sold KES 375,680

Lot 39 — Edward Njenga, Naftali

Lot 39

Edward Njenga

Naftali, 1970

KES 450,000 – 500,000

USD 5,110 – 5,680

Sold KES 528,300

Lot 40 — Edward Njenga, Jua Kali Shoe Repair

Lot 40

Edward Njenga

Jua Kali Shoe Repair, 1988

KES 320,000 – 400,000

USD 3,635 – 4,545

Sold KES 352,200

Lot 41 — Anthony Okello, Bird Watchers at Maragwa

Lot 41

Anthony Okello

Bird Watchers at Maragwa, 2004

KES 120,000 – 170,000

USD 1,350 – 1,950

Sold KES 305,240

Lot 42 — Peterson Kamwathi, Nchi 3 Wananchi from Nchi Yetu Series

Lot 42

Peterson Kamwathi

Nchi 3 Wananchi from Nchi Yetu Series, 2004-5

KES 150,000 – 250,000

USD 1,700 – 2,850

Sold KES 375,680

Lot 43 — Phillip (Nelly) Ndunguru, Fortune teller

Lot 43

Phillip (Nelly) Ndunguru

Fortune teller, 1983

KES 48,500 – 61,500

USD 550 – 700

Sold KES 76,310

Lot 44 — Sebastian Kiarie, Serenity

Lot 44

Sebastian Kiarie

Serenity, 1996

KES 280,000 – 350,000

USD 3,200 – 4,000

Bought in

Lot 45 — Eli Kyeyune, Portrait

Lot 45

Eli Kyeyune

Portrait, 1975

KES 295,000 – 350,000

USD 3,300 – 4,000

Sold post-auction

Lot 46 — Eli Kyeyune, Girl

Lot 46

Eli Kyeyune

Girl, 1970

KES 250,000 – 300,000

USD 2,850 – 3,400

Sold KES 563,520

Lot 47 — Beatrice Wanjiku, Retrospect

Lot 47

Beatrice Wanjiku

Retrospect, 2009

KES 270,000 – 310,000

USD 3,070 – 3,525

Sold KES 446,120

Lot 48 — Salah Elmur, The Family

Lot 48

Salah Elmur

The Family, 2014

KES 440,000 – 530,000

USD 5,000 – 6,000

Bought in

Lot 49 — Robino Ntila, Mother and Children, Tanzania

Lot 49

Robino Ntila

Mother and Children, Tanzania, 1980

KES 29,000 – 35,000

USD 330 – 400

Sold KES 61,048

Lot 50 — Issam Hafiez, Untitled

Lot 50

Issam Hafiez

Untitled, 2005

KES 48,000 – 62,000

USD 500 – 700

Sold KES 129,140

Lot 51 — George Lilanga, Untitled diptych, before 1998

Lot 51

George Lilanga

Untitled diptych, before 1998

KES 150,000 – 250,000

USD 1,700 – 2,850

Sold KES 176,100

Lot 52 — George Lilanga, Untitled (the villager)

Lot 52

George Lilanga

Untitled (the villager), undated

KES 110,000 – 175,000

USD 1,200 – 2,000

Sold KES 199,580

Lot 53 — Eria (Sane) Nsubuga, Joy Ride to the City (Zechariah 2:8)

Lot 53

Eria (Sane) Nsubuga

Joy Ride to the City (Zechariah 2:8), 2014

KES 195,000 – 300,000

USD 2,200 – 3,500

Sold KES 206,624

Lot 54 — Dennis Muraguri, Matatu Country

Lot 54

Dennis Muraguri

Matatu Country, 2014

KES 195,000 – 295,000

USD 2,215 – 3,350

Sold KES 363,940

Lot 55 — David Mzuguno, Untitled

Lot 55

David Mzuguno

Untitled, undated

KES 30,000 – 32,000

USD 330 – 360

Sold KES 103,312

Lot 56 — Joseph Bertiers, International Leaders Dialogue

Lot 56

Joseph Bertiers

International Leaders Dialogue, 2014

KES 500,000 – 650,000

USD 5,700 – 7,400

Sold KES 587,000

Lot 57 — Maasai Mbili (Gomba Otieno, Ashif Malamba, Kevo Stero and Wycliffe Opondo), Untitled

Lot 57

Maasai Mbili (Gomba Otieno, Ashif Malamba, Kevo Stero and Wycliffe Opondo)

Untitled, 2014

KES 120,000 – 200,000

USD 1,360 – 2,270

Sold KES 200,000