Lot 27

Simon Mpata (Tanzanian, 1940 – 1982)
Untitled, undated
Signed ‘S.G.MPATA’ (lower left)
Enamel on board
60.6 x 60.9 cm
Ksh 285,000 – 395,000
(US$) 2,500 – 3,500
Provenance: private collection

Sold Ksh 293,500

Simon Mpata is the youngest half-brother of E. S. Tingatinga. Mpata learnt to paint from his brother and is generally viewed as the artist who kept his style the closest to Tingatinga’s. After Tingatinga’s death, Mpata left Tanzania to open a studio in Nairobi where he lived and worked until his death in 1982.

Mpata’s work has been extensively collected and shown in numerous exhibitions worldwide and is considered second in value and technique only to his celebrated mentor and brother.

This painting was purchased by the current owner in 2000 from the previous owner, who had bought the piece directly from the artist.