Modern and Contemporary Art Auction East Africa 2025

Date

6 November 2024

Location

Circle Art Gallery and online at invaluable.com

The Art Auction East Africa is now in its 12th year and our focus remains on Modern and Contemporary Eastern African art.

This sale prioritised rare, secondary market artworks from the 1960s to 1990s with a small contemporary section.

Number of lots

57 lots

Countries

Nine

Sell through rate

95%, including sales post-auction

Total sales

Over KES 27 million.

Lots 1 – 66

Lot 1

Boniface Maina (Kenyan, born 1987)
Diary of the Concealed, 2012
Signed ‘Maina-b 2012’ (lower right)
Acrylic on canvas
99 x 99cm
KES 250,000 – 350,000
(US$) 1,970 – 2,750

Details

Lot 2

Rosemary Karuga (Kenyan 1928 – 2021)
Hen and its Chicks, circa 1995 – 1998
Unsigned
Collage on paper
29 x 41.5cm
KES 250,000 – 350,000 ARR
(US$) 1,970 – 2,750

Details

Lot 4

Annabelle Wanjiku (Kenyan, 1963 – 2020)
Untitled ll, circa 1990s
Signed ‘ANNABELLE’ (lower right)
Mixed media on canvas
94 x 64cm
KES 150,000 – 250,000 ARR
(US$) 1,200 – 2,000

Details

Lot 7 Dickens Otieno Art Auction East Africa Strauss & Co 2025 — Details

Dickens Otieno (Kenyan, born 1979)
Nyagem Tailor, circa 2011 – 2014
Signed ‘dickens’ on a metal plate (lower right)
Shredded aluminium cans, canvas, acrylic and synthetic leather woven on steel mesh
116cm x 100cm x 20cm
KES 350,000 – 500,000
(US$) 2,750 – 4,000

Details

Lot 8

Kamal Shah (Kenyan, born 1953)
Within the Silence, 2008
Signed ‘Kamal Shah’ (lower right)
Charcoal on canvas
40 x 30 cm
KES 200,000 – 300,000
(US$) 1,550 – 2,400

Details

Lot 9

Cyrus Kabiru (Kenyan, born 1984)
Same Colours, from the Sun series, 2025
Signed ‘C kabiru’ (upper middle)
Mixed media with found objects
26cm x 26cm x 20cm
KES 600,000 – 1,000,000
(US$) 4,700 – 8,000

Details

Lot 19

Michael Dimo (Kenyan, born 1950)
Untitled (Standing Figure), circa 1980s
Unsigned with COA
Podocarpus wood
140 x 20 x 22 cm
KES 300,000 – 400,000 ARR
(US$) 2,350 – 3,150

Details

Lot 20

Gakunju Kaigwa (Kenyan, born 1958) with Tapfuma Gutsa (Zimbabwean, born 1956)
Mami Wata, 2025
Signed ‘KAIGWA/GUTSA’ (left side of sculpture)
Cold cast marble in resin fibreglass
51 x 95 x 51 cm
KES 550,000 – 700,000
(US$) 4,300 – 5,500

Details

Lot 22

Ancent Soi (Kenyan, 1939 – 2022)
Untitled (Cow Herder), 1972
Signed ‘Soi 72’ (lower right)
Oil on board
59.5 x 61.5 cm
KES 400,000 – 600,000
(US$) 3,150 – 4,750

Details

Lot 23

Ancent Soi (Kenyan, 1939 – 2022)
Herdsboy Taking Cows Home, 1995
Signed ‘1995 Soi’ (lower left)
Oil on canvas
61.5 x 96 cm
KES 530,000 – 660,000
(US$) 4,000 – 5,000

Details

Lot 29

Sane Wadu (Kenyan, born 1954)
The Labour, 1990
Signed ‘Sane Wadu 90’ (lower right)
Watercolour on paper
42 x 59 cm
KES 150,000 – 250,000 ARR
(US$) 1,200 – 2,000

Details

Lot 30

Richard Kimathi (Kenyan 1971)
Competition l, circa 2005
Signed ‘KIMAThi’ (lower right)
Acrylic on canvas
78 x 71cm
KES 300,000 – 400,000 ARR
(US$) 2,350 – 3,150

Details

Lot 31

Justus Kyalo (Kenyan, born 1972)
More Light a Little, 2021
Signed ‘signature’ verso
Acrylic on canvas
120 x 99.5 cm
KES 685,000 – 885,000 ARR
(US$) 5,400 – 7,000

Details

Lot 40

Evanson Kang’ethe (Kenyan, born 1961)
Traders and Commuters, 2014
Signed ‘Evanson Kang’ethe 2014’ (lower right)
Ink on Paper
51 x 76 cm
KES 80,000 – 150,000
(US$) 630 – 1,200

Details

Lot 42

Yony Waite (Kenyan, 1935 – 2024)
Untitled (Zebra), circa early 2000s
Signed ‘Yony’ (lower right)
Acrylic on canvas
155 x 181 cm
KES 450,000 – 800,000
(US$) 3,550 – 6,300

Details

Lot 43

Yony Waite (Kenyan, 1935 – 2024)
Lamu Conversations, early 2000s
Signed ‘Yony Waite’ (lower right)
Ink and pen on paper
21 x 30 cm
KES 60,000 – 100,000
(US$) 470 – 800

Details

Lot 45

Beatrice Wanjiku (Kenyan, born 1978)
We Are Who We Are, 2010
Signed ‘Signature (Immortality series 2010)’ verso
Acrylic and found objects on canvas
150 x 100 cm
KES 800,000 – 1,000,000 ARR
(US$) 6,300 – 8,000

Details

Lot 46

Michael Wafula (Kenyan, born 1972)
Feeling Blue, 2023
Signed ‘Michael Wafula 23’ (lower left)
Acrylic on satin vinyl mounted on board
84 x 84.5 cm
KES 200,000 – 300,000
(US$) 1,550 – 2,400

Details

Lot 47

Shabu Mwangi (Kenyan, born 1985)
Black Moon, 2014
Signed ‘Shabu Mwangi 08/2014’ (lower right)
Oil on canvas
76.5 x 55 cm
KES 350,000 – 450,000
(US$) 2,750 – 3,550

Details

Lot 48

Sukuro Etale (Kenyan, born 1954)
Mount Kenya, circa 1985 – 1986
Signed ‘SUKURÖ’ (lower right), inscribed verso with Gallery Watatu Label
Watercolour on paper
27.5 x 75 cm
KES 150,000 – 200,000 ARR
(US$) 1,200 – 1,600

Details

Lot 49

Peter Elungat (Kenyan, born 1981)
Voice of the Divine, 2016
Signed ‘Elungat 2016’ (lower right)
Charcoal on paper
75.5 x 110 cm
KES 450,000 – 650,000 ARR
(US$) 3,500 – 5,200

Details

Modern and Contemporary Art Auction 2025 | Strauss & Co

Lots 1 – 66