Art Auction East Africa

Modern and Contemporary
Art Auction East Africa 2024

Circle Art Gallery, Nairobi

6 November 2024 · 58 lots

In its 12th year, the Art Auction East Africa kept its focus firmly on modern and contemporary Eastern African art. This sale prioritised rare, secondary-market artworks from the 1960s to the 1990s, with a small contemporary section.

The sale offered 58 lots by artists from nine countries. 54 sold — a sell-through rate of 93% — with total sales of KES 27,013,123.

The three highest prices were Edward Saidi Tingatinga's Untitled (Tortoise), circa 1968–1972 (Lot 28), at KES 3,169,800, Eli Kyeyune's Untitled (The Reader), 1974 (Lot 17), at KES 1,526,200, and Geoffrey Mukasa's portrait of the artist's mother (Lot 14) at KES 1,417,320.

Artist focus: Eli Kyeyune. The Reader (Lot 17) was the highest figure yet recorded for the Ugandan modernist and the clearest sign of a sustained re-evaluation of his portraiture, which has risen steadily in every sale it has appeared in since 2014.

Showing 58 of 58 lots

Lot 1 — Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled

Lot 1

Geoffrey Mukasa

Untitled, 1998

KES 260,000 – 360,000

(US$) 2,080 – 2,880

Sold KES 516,560

Lot 2 — Charles Sekano, Untitled (Faces), undated

Lot 2

Charles Sekano

Untitled (Faces), undated

KES: 300,000 – 600,000

($US) 2,400 – 4,800

Sold KES 328,720

Lot 3 — Lawrence ‘Shabu’ Mwangi, Marry Me to Stay

Lot 3

Lawrence ‘Shabu’ Mwangi

Marry Me to Stay, 2013

KES 350,000 – 450,000

(US$) 2,800 – 3,600

Sold KES 399,160

Lot 4 — Rosemary Karuga, Mother

Lot 4

Rosemary Karuga

Mother

KES 300,000 – 500,000

(US$) 2,400 – 4,000

Sold KES 352,200

Lot 5 — Rosemary Karuga, Yellow Bird

Lot 5

Rosemary Karuga

Yellow Bird, 1991

Reduced price KES 250,000 plus buyers premium

Lot 6 — Simon Mpata, Untitled (Bird), undated

Lot 6

Simon Mpata

Untitled (Bird), undated

KES 250,000 – 300,000

(US$) 2,000 – 2,400

Sold KES 399,160

Lot 7 — Ephrem Solomon, Folk Memory 5 (from the Folk Memory series)

Lot 7

Ephrem Solomon

Folk Memory 5 (from the Folk Memory series), 2015

Sold KES 1,143,000

Lot 8 — Ephrem Solomon, Makeda’s father dies

Lot 8

Ephrem Solomon

Makeda’s father dies, 2011

KES 150,000 – 220,000

(US$)1,200 – 1,760

Sold KES 246,540

Lot 9 — Salah Elmur, Two Vision

Lot 9

Salah Elmur

Two Vision, 2018

KES 700,000 – 900,000

(US$) 5,600 – 7,200

Sold KES 798,320

Lot 10 — Floride Mukabageni, Reconciliation

Lot 10

Floride Mukabageni

Reconciliation, 2012

KES 150,000 – 200,000

(US$) 1,200 – 1,600

Withdrawn

Lot 11 — Joseph Ntensibe, Monument of Masks

Lot 11

Joseph Ntensibe

Monument of Masks, 2006

KES 875,000 – 1,250,000

(US$) 7,000 – 10,000

Sold KES 1,056,600

Lot 12 — Francis Musango, Village Under Banana Grove, circa late 1970s

Lot 12

Francis Musango

Village Under Banana Grove, circa late 1970s

Sold KES 171,450

Lot 13 — Theresa Musoke, Untitled (Landscape in pink with papyri), circa 2000s

Lot 13

Theresa Musoke

Untitled (Landscape in pink with papyri), circa 2000s

KES 330,000 – 500,000

(US$) 2,640 – 4,000

Sold KES 375,680

Lot 14 — Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled, (portrait of artist’s mother), circa late 1970s

Lot 14

Geoffrey Mukasa

Untitled, (portrait of artist’s mother), circa late 1970s

KES 1,300,000 – 1,500,000

(US$) 10,400 – 12,000

Sold KES 1,417,320

Lot 15 — David Mzuguno, Harvest of the Sunflower, circa 1995

Lot 15

David Mzuguno

Harvest of the Sunflower, circa 1995

KES 375,000 – 500,000

(US$) 3,000 – 4,000

Sold KES 422,640

Lot 16 — Souad Abdelrassoul, Me

Lot 16

Souad Abdelrassoul

Me

KES 500,000 – 900,000

(US$) 4,000 – 7,200

Sold KES 516,560

Lot 17 — Eli Kyeyune, Untitled (The Reader)

Lot 17

Eli Kyeyune

Untitled (The Reader), 1974

KES 1,300,000 – 1,500,000

(US$) 10,400 – 12,000

Sold KES 1,526,200

Lot 18 — Yony Waite, Untitled (Horse), circa 2021

Lot 18

Yony Waite

Untitled (Horse), circa 2021

KES 100,000 – 150,000

(US$) 800 – 1,200

Sold KES 270,020

Lot 19 — Jak Katarikawe, Untitled, circa 1998 – 2002

Lot 19

Jak Katarikawe

Untitled, circa 1998 – 2002

KES 330,000 – 440,000

(US$) 2,640 – 3,520

Sold KES 352,200

Lot 20 — Fabian Mpagi, Untitled (The Cattle)

Lot 20

Fabian Mpagi

Untitled (The Cattle), 1978

KES 450,000 – 650,000

(US$) 3,600 – 5,200

Sold KES 540,040

Lot 21 — Moses Igan Byesonsa, African Woman

Lot 21

Moses Igan Byesonsa

African Woman, 2008

KES 130,000 – 230,000

(US$) 1,040 – 1,840

Sold KES 223,060

Lot 22 — Jackson Wanjau, Tired with Fertility, undated

Lot 22

Jackson Wanjau

Tired with Fertility, undated

KES 400,000 – 600,000

(US$) 3,200 – 4,800

Sold KES 399,160

Lot 23 — Michael Adams MBE, Untitled

Lot 23

Michael Adams MBE

Untitled, 1970

KES 150,000 – 300,000

(US$) 1,200 – 2,400

Sold KES 117,400

Lot 24 — George Lilanga, Untitled, undated

Lot 24

George Lilanga

Untitled, undated

KES 250,000 – 350,000

(US$) 2,000 – 2,800

Sold KES 399,160

Lot 25 — Tahir Carl Karmali, Paradise III

Lot 25

Tahir Carl Karmali

Paradise III, 2019

KES 600,000 – 800,000

(US$)4,800 – 6,400

Sold KES 587,000

Lot 26 — John Silver Kimani, Thoughts of My Heart, circa 1998

Lot 26

John Silver Kimani

Thoughts of My Heart, circa 1998

Sold KES 70,485

Lot 27 — El Sadig Agena, Untitled VI

Lot 27

El Sadig Agena

Untitled VI, 2018

Sold KES 149,685

Lot 28 — Edward Saidi Tingatinga, Untitled (Tortoise), circa 1968-1972

Lot 28

Edward Saidi Tingatinga

Untitled (Tortoise), circa 1968-1972

KES 900,000 – 1,500,000

Sold KES 3,169,800

Lot 29 — Edward Saidi Tingatinga, Untitled (Mermaids), circa 1968-1972

Lot 29

Edward Saidi Tingatinga

Untitled (Mermaids), circa 1968-1972

KES 900,000 – 1,500,000

Sold KES 1,115,300

Lot 30 — Mohamed Charinda, Untitled

Lot 30

Mohamed Charinda

Untitled, 2000

KES 150,000 – 200,000

(US$) 1,200 – 1,600

Sold KES 223,060

Lot 31 — Steven (Said A.) Mkumba, Untitled, circa 1990-1993

Lot 31

Steven (Said A.) Mkumba

Untitled, circa 1990-1993

KES 150,000 – 200,000

(US$) 1,200 – 1,600

Sold KES 140,880

Lot 32 — David Mzuguno, Fruits of the Jungle

Lot 32

David Mzuguno

Fruits of the Jungle, 2007

KES: 375,000 – 500,000

(US$) 3,000 – 4,000

Sold KES 493,080

Lot 33 — Ibrahim Nsubuga, The Last Time

Lot 33

Ibrahim Nsubuga

The Last Time, 2024

KES 120,000 – 200,000

(US$) 960 – 1,600

Sold KES 152,620

Lot 34 — Annabelle Wanjiku, Untitled I

Lot 34

Annabelle Wanjiku

Untitled I, 1982

Sold KES 175,895

Lot 35 — Joel Oswaggo, Fighting Bulls, undated

Lot 35

Joel Oswaggo

Fighting Bulls, undated

KES 150,000 – 200,000

(US$) 1,200 – 1,600

Sold KES 199,580

Lot 36 — Richard Kimathi, Raven

Lot 36

Richard Kimathi

Raven

KES 300,000 – 600,000

(US$) 2,400 – 4,800

Sold KES 1,056,600

Lot 37 — Lydia Mugambi, Untitled (Children Eating)

Lot 37

Lydia Mugambi

Untitled (Children Eating), 1976

Sold KES 285,750

Lot 38 — Yony Waite, Untitled, circa early 2000s

Lot 38

Yony Waite

Untitled, circa early 2000s

KES 400,000 – 500,000

(US$) 3,200 – 4,000

Sold KES 446,120

Lot 39 — Chelenge van Rampelberg, La Pieta, circa 2002

Lot 39

Chelenge van Rampelberg

La Pieta, circa 2002

KES 600,000 – 900,000

(US$) 4,800 – 7,200

Sold KES 704,400

Lot 40 — Nadir Tharani, 9-4-3 (from the series ‘Positions of Power’)

Lot 40

Nadir Tharani

9-4-3 (from the series ‘Positions of Power’), 2014

Sold KES 222,250

Lot 41 — Yiga Matovu, Mosque Near Makerere University, circa late 1970s

Lot 41

Yiga Matovu

Mosque Near Makerere University, circa late 1970s

Sold KES 137,358

Lot 42 — Sane Wadu, Broken Mirror

Lot 42

Sane Wadu

Broken Mirror, 2004

Sold KES 292,100

Lot 43 — Zachariah Mbutha, Untitled, undated (ed. AP 4/5)

Lot 43

Zachariah Mbutha

Untitled, undated (ed. AP 4/5)

KES 40,000 – 80,000

(US$) 320 – 640

Sold KES 70,440

Lot 44 — Tabitha wa Thuku, An Endless Beginner

Lot 44

Tabitha wa Thuku

An Endless Beginner, 2024

Reduced price KES 300,000 plus buyers premium

Lot 45 — John Obaso Diang’a, Pangs of Hunger

Lot 45

John Obaso Diang’a

Pangs of Hunger, 1975

Sold KES 117,475

Lot 46 — Paul Onditi, Untitled, undated

Lot 46

Paul Onditi

Untitled, undated

KES 470,000 – 650,000 ARR

Sold KES 610,480

Lot 47 — Wanyu Brush, The Woman

Lot 47

Wanyu Brush

The Woman

KES 90,000 – 150,000

(US$) 720 – 1,200

Sold KES 187,840

Lot 48 — George Lilanga, Baba inatosha pombe

Lot 48

George Lilanga

Baba inatosha pombe, 1998

KES: 60,000 – 100,000

(US$) 480 – 800

Sold KES 164,360

Lot 49 — Sukuro Etale, Mount Kenya, circa 1985 – 1986

Lot 49

Sukuro Etale

Mount Kenya, circa 1985 – 1986

Reduced price KES 100,000 plus buyers premium

Lot 50 — Issam Hafiez, Rise Up

Lot 50

Issam Hafiez

Rise Up, 2013

Sold KES 292,100

Lot 51 — Samuel Githui, King Midas Golden Touch

Lot 51

Samuel Githui

King Midas Golden Touch, 1999

KES 130,000 – 190,000

(US$) 1,040 – 1,520

Sold KES 152,620

Lot 52 — Peter Elungat, Untitled

Lot 52

Peter Elungat

Untitled, 2002

Sold KES 484,665

Lot 53 — Francis Nnaggenda, Pool-Side Shades

Lot 53

Francis Nnaggenda

Pool-Side Shades, 1988

KES 250,000 – 350,000

(US$) 1,667 – 2,800

Sold KES 727,880

Lot 54 — Claudette Schreuders, Untitled

Lot 54

Claudette Schreuders

Untitled, 1998

KES 1,000,000 – 1,600,000

(US$) 8,000 – 12,800

Sold KES 1,350,100

Lot 55 — George Lilanga, Vijana wanafurahia baada ya kumuona Haki Tena (Young men rejoicing after seeing Justice again), undated

Lot 55

George Lilanga

Vijana wanafurahia baada ya kumuona Haki Tena (Young men rejoicing after seeing Justice again), undated

KES 400,000 – 500,000

(US$) 3,200 – 4,000

Sold KES 610,480

Lot 56 — Jackson Wanjau, Hornbills

Lot 56

Jackson Wanjau

Hornbills, 1998

KES 200,000- 300,000

(US$)1,600 – 2,400

Sold KES 352,200

Lot 57 — Peterson Kamwathi, Kura

Lot 57

Peterson Kamwathi

Kura, 2004

KES 45,000 – 90,000

(US$) 360 – 720

Sold KES 211,320

Lot 58 — Beatrice Wanjiku, Life

Lot 58

Beatrice Wanjiku

Life, 2004

KES 45,000 – 90,000

(US$) 360 – 720

Sold KES 88,050

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