Modern and Contemporary
Art Auction East Africa 2015

Villa Rosa Kempinski, Nairobi

3 November 2015 · 51 lots

Circle's 3rd Modern and Contemporary East African Art Auction continued to widen the field, pairing rare secondary-market modern works with the strongest contemporary art from the region.

Of the 51 lots offered, 43 sold — a sell-through rate of 84% — with total sales of KES 19,523,620.

The three highest prices were Geoffrey Mukasa's At Home (Lot 22) and Rashid Diab's Out of Focus (Lot 36), level at KES 1,878,400 each, followed by an untitled 1970 painting by Eli Kyeyune (Lot 43) at KES 1,643,600.

Artist focus: Eli Kyeyune. The Ugandan modernist's 1970 canvas (Lot 43) was among the earliest works in the sale and one of its strongest results, marking the point at which mid-century Ugandan painting began to be sought after in the region's secondary market.

Sponsors

Standard Chartered
Villa Rosa Kempinski Nairobi
Moët & Chandon
Majestic Printing Works Limited

Supported by

Safarilink
P&L Consulting

CATALOGUE

Showing 51 of 51 lots

Lot 1 — Dawit Abebe, Background

Lot 1

Dawit Abebe

Background, 2015

KES 495,000 – 660,000

USD 4,500 – 6,000

Sold KES 1,291,400

Lot 2 — Peter Elungat, Great Times of Angelina

Lot 2

Peter Elungat

Great Times of Angelina, 2000

KES 50,000 – 80,000

USD 460 – 730

Sold KES 135,010

Lot 3 — Michael Wafula, Political Affiliation

Lot 3

Michael Wafula

Political Affiliation, 2015

KES 110,000 – 150,000

USD 1,000 – 1,365

Sold KES 469,600

Lot 4 — Geoffrey Mukasa, The Three of Us

Lot 4

Geoffrey Mukasa

The Three of Us, undated

KES 385,000 – 495,000

USD 3,500 – 4,500

Sold KES 528,300

Lot 5 — Joseph Bertiers, The Doctor’s Strike

Lot 5

Joseph Bertiers

The Doctor’s Strike, 2015

KES 450,000 – 600,000

USD 4,090 – 5,455

Bought in

Lot 6 — Joseph Bertiers, The Hawkers

Lot 6

Joseph Bertiers

The Hawkers, 2015

KES 200,000 – 250,000

USD 1,820 – 2,275

Sold KES 234,800

Lot 7 — Peterson Kamwathi, Peri Urban Encounters II

Lot 7

Peterson Kamwathi

Peri Urban Encounters II, circa 2012/13

KES 550,000 – 600,000

USD 5,000 – 5,455

Sold KES 645,700

Lot 8 — Peter Walala, Clear Instructions

Lot 8

Peter Walala

Clear Instructions, 2015

KES 270,000 – 400,000

USD 2,455 – 3,640

Bought in

Lot 9 — Jak Katarikawe, In Bishop’s Blessing, before 1987

Lot 9

Jak Katarikawe

In Bishop’s Blessing, before 1987

KES 600,000 – 800,000

USD 5,455 – 7,275

Sold KES 645,700

Lot 10 — Jak Katarikawe, Msichana

Lot 10

Jak Katarikawe

Msichana, undated

KES 330,000 – 550,000

USD 3,000 – 5,000

Withdrawn

Lot 11 — Geraldine Robarts, Tree of Life

Lot 11

Geraldine Robarts

Tree of Life, 1987

KES 75,000 – 90,000

USD 680 – 820

Sold KES 140,880

Lot 12 — Tabitha Wa Thuku, Relaxing Nude from the series Nude Measure

Lot 12

Tabitha Wa Thuku

Relaxing Nude from the series Nude Measure, 2003

KES 90,000 – 120,000

USD 820 – 1,090

Sold KES 187,840

Lot 13 — Timothy Brooke, Clouds Over Lolldaiga

Lot 13

Timothy Brooke

Clouds Over Lolldaiga, 2015

KES 700,000 – 900,000

USD 6,365 – 8,185

Bought in

Lot 14 — Ahmed Abushariaa, Untitled

Lot 14

Ahmed Abushariaa

Untitled, undated

KES 90,000 – 130,000

USD 820 – 1,185

Sold KES 199,580

Lot 15 — Edward Njenga, Chupa Na Debe

Lot 15

Edward Njenga

Chupa Na Debe, 1970

KES 450,000 – 500,000

USD 4,090 – 4,545

Sold KES 469,600

Lot 16 — Edward Njenga, Jua Kali Carpenter

Lot 16

Edward Njenga

Jua Kali Carpenter, 2001

KES 370,000 – 400,000

USD 3,365 – 3,640

Sold KES 410,900

Lot 17 — Jacob Barua, Good Fences Make For Good Neighbours

Lot 17

Jacob Barua

Good Fences Make For Good Neighbours, 2014

KES 110,000 – 160,000

USD 1,000 – 1,455

Sold KES 164,360

Lot 18 — Antony Kaminju, Soweto Party

Lot 18

Antony Kaminju

Soweto Party, 2008

KES 200,000 – 250,000

USD 1,820 – 2,270

Sold KES 211,320

Lot 19 — Tamrat Gezahegn, Spirit Doors I

Lot 19

Tamrat Gezahegn

Spirit Doors I, 2015

KES 319,000 – 385,000

USD 2,900 – 3,500

Sold KES 375,680

Lot 20 — Dickens Otieno, Untitled

Lot 20

Dickens Otieno

Untitled, 2015

KES 120,000 – 150,000

USD 1,090 – 1,365

Sold KES 375,680

Lot 21 — Tibebe Terffa, Untitled

Lot 21

Tibebe Terffa

Untitled, 2015

KES 330,000 – 385,000

USD 3,000 – 3,500

Sold KES 375,680

Lot 22 — Geoffrey Mukasa, At Home

Lot 22

Geoffrey Mukasa

At Home, 1991

KES 1,705,000 – 1,925,000

USD 15,500 – 17,500

Sold KES 1,878,400

Lot 23 — Paul Ndema, No African Pope

Lot 23

Paul Ndema

No African Pope, 2015

KES 154,000 – 176,000

USD 1,400 – 1,600

Sold KES 328,720

Lot 24 — Justus Kyalo, Lakeside Images II

Lot 24

Justus Kyalo

Lakeside Images II, 1997

KES 275,000 – 450,000

USD 2,500 – 4,090

Sold KES 293,500

Lot 25 — Ato Malinda, Untitled

Lot 25

Ato Malinda

Untitled, 2015

KES 180,000 – 220,000

USD 1,635 – 2,000

Sold KES 211,320

Lot 26 — Charles Sekano, Untitled

Lot 26

Charles Sekano

Untitled, undated

KES 300,000 – 400,000

USD 2,730 – 3,640

Sold KES 446,120

Lot 27 — George Lilanga, Untitled (Man with Phone and Cigarette)

Lot 27

George Lilanga

Untitled (Man with Phone and Cigarette), undated

KES 363,000 – 440,000

USD 3,300 – 4,000

Sold KES 410,900

Lot 28 — Simon Mpata, Untitled (Hairdressing Day)

Lot 28

Simon Mpata

Untitled (Hairdressing Day), undated

KES 264,000 – 308,000

USD 2,400 – 2,800

Sold KES 258,280

Lot 29 — Tedo Kaspar Henrick, Untitled (Fishermen and Visitors)

Lot 29

Tedo Kaspar Henrick

Untitled (Fishermen and Visitors), undated

KES 132,000 – 165,000

USD 1,200 – 1,500

Sold KES 140,880

Lot 30 — Edward Saidi Tingatinga, Untitled (Elephant)

Lot 30

Edward Saidi Tingatinga

Untitled (Elephant), 1971

KES 363,000 – 473,000

USD 3,300 – 4,300

Sold KES 763,100

Lot 31 — Adeusi Mandu Mmatambwe, Untitled (Mashetani)

Lot 31

Adeusi Mandu Mmatambwe

Untitled (Mashetani), undated

KES 132,000 – 165,000

USD 1,200 – 1,500

Sold KES 152,620

Lot 32 — Mruta Hashim Bushiri, Untitled (Sea Creatures)

Lot 32

Mruta Hashim Bushiri

Untitled (Sea Creatures), undated

KES 132,000 – 165,000

USD 1,200 – 1,500

Sold KES 129,140

Lot 33 — David Mzuguno, Cut One Plant More

Lot 33

David Mzuguno

Cut One Plant More, undated

KES 132,000 – 165,000

USD 1,200 – 1,500

Sold KES 152,620

Lot 34 — John Muafangejo, St. Michael Church in Windhoek

Lot 34

John Muafangejo

St. Michael Church in Windhoek, 1985

KES 155,100 – 193,600

USD 1,410 – 1,760

Sold KES 187,840

Lot 35 — John Muafangejo, Mother and Child

Lot 35

John Muafangejo

Mother and Child, 1983

KES 258,500 – 322,850

USD 2,350 – 2,935

Bought in

Lot 36 — Rashid Diab, Out of Focus

Lot 36

Rashid Diab

Out of Focus, 2015

KES 852,500 – 935,000

USD 7,750 – 8,500

Sold KES 1,878,400

Lot 37 — Raza Mohamed, The Masks

Lot 37

Raza Mohamed

The Masks, 2000

KES 121,000 – 165,000

USD 1,100 – 1,500

Sold KES 187,840

Lot 38 — Nadir Tharani, 9-1-7. For Ali and Aziz

Lot 38

Nadir Tharani

9-1-7. For Ali and Aziz, 2014

KES 110,000 – 132,000

USD 1,000 – 1,200

Sold KES 293,500

Lot 39 — Beatrice Wanjiku, Study 1 for the Strait Jacket series

Lot 39

Beatrice Wanjiku

Study 1 for the Strait Jacket series, 2015

KES 160,000 – 200,000

USD 1,455 – 1,820

Sold KES 258,280

Lot 40 — Kivuthi Mbuno, Dangerous Leopard

Lot 40

Kivuthi Mbuno

Dangerous Leopard, undated

KES 120,000 – 180,000

USD 1,090 – 1,640

Bought in

Lot 41 — Kerima Ahmed, Spring Dream II

Lot 41

Kerima Ahmed

Spring Dream II, 2011

KES 187,000 – 220,000

USD 1,700 – 2,000

Bought in

Lot 42 — Yony Waite, Migration

Lot 42

Yony Waite

Migration, circa 1985

KES 240,000 – 400,000

USD 2,180 – 3,640

Sold KES 446,120

Lot 43 — Eli Kyeyune, Untitled

Lot 43

Eli Kyeyune

Untitled, 1970

KES 363,000 – 550,000

USD 3,300 – 5,000

Sold KES 1,643,600

Lot 44 — Eria Sane Nsubuga, Waiting for the Next Song

Lot 44

Eria Sane Nsubuga

Waiting for the Next Song, 2015

KES 220,000 – 330,000

USD 2,000 – 3,000

Sold KES 281,760

Lot 45 — Richard Onyango, Salambo Night Trailer, serial IV

Lot 45

Richard Onyango

Salambo Night Trailer, serial IV, 2013

KES 500,000 – 600,000

USD 4,545 – 5,455

Sold KES 528,300

Lot 46 — El Sadig Agena, Untitled

Lot 46

El Sadig Agena

Untitled, 2014

KES 300,000 – 350,000

USD 2,730 – 3,180

Sold KES 563,520

Lot 47 — Samuel Githui, Rat Race

Lot 47

Samuel Githui

Rat Race, 2015

KES 176,000 – 220,000

USD 1,600 – 2,000

Sold KES 352,200

Lot 48 — Elkana Ong’esa, Memory of a Fallen Hero

Lot 48

Elkana Ong’esa

Memory of a Fallen Hero, 1985

KES 370,000 – 450,000

USD 3,365 – 4,090

Bought in

Lot 49 — Ephrem Solomon, Untitled from the Forbidden Fruit series

Lot 49

Ephrem Solomon

Untitled from the Forbidden Fruit series, 2015

KES 459,800 – 556,600

USD 4,180 – 5,060

Sold KES 493,080

Lot 50 — Theresa Musoke, The Crested Crane

Lot 50

Theresa Musoke

The Crested Crane, circa 1972

KES 80,000 – 100,000

USD 730 – 910

Sold KES 281,760

Lot 51 — Ashif Malamba, My Throne

Lot 51

Ashif Malamba

My Throne, 2014

KES 90,000 – 120,000

USD 820 – 1,090

Sold KES 99,790