Many auction records for works by African American artists were achieved at Swann Galleries’ October 7 auction of African American fine art. Most notably, Norman Lewis’s untitled abstract expressionist oil on canvas, circa 1960-64, sold to the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA) for $312,000 †the highest price ever realized at auction for an abstract painting by a Modern African American artist and an auction record for any work by the artist.
The MFA also acquired Walter Augustus Simon’s “715 Washington Street, Greenwich Village,” an abstract oil on canvas, 1947, for an artist record $36,000; and Hughie Lee-Smith’s “The Juggler #1,” oil on canvas, circa 1964, for $90,000.
Nigel Freeman, director of the African American fine art department at Swann, said, “Especially in light of the current economic situation, we are thrilled with the results of the auction, the fourth conducted by our new department in less than two years. There was an unprecedented level of participation by museums, indicating a recognition of the scarcity and quality of the works now coming to sale at Swann.”
The Sheldon Museum of Art in Lincoln, Neb., made several major purchases, including Charles White’s large and detailed pen and ink drawing, “Frederick Douglass Lives Again (The Ghost of Frederick Douglass),” 1949, for $204,000; two strong abstract pieces, Alvin D. Loving Jr’s untitled (Hexagon Composition), acrylic on shaped canvas, circa 1967‶9, for an artist record price of $156,000; and Charles Alston’s untitled (Figures with Architecture), tempera and crayon on paper, 1949, for $19,200; and Jacob Lawrence’s tour de force “Eight Passages,” eight color screen prints illustrating the King James version of the Book of Genesis, 1990, for a record $50,400.
Another important abstract painting, Hale Wooduff’s “The Land of Many Moons,” oil on canvas, 1957, sold to a private collector for $108,000.
Record prices were also realized for photographs and fine prints. James Vanderzee’s “Eighteen Photographs,” portfolio with 18 mounted photographs dating from 1905 to 1938, one of 75 numbered copies published in 1974, brought $40,800, topping the prior record $26,400 set for another copy at Swann on February 19, 2008.
Charles White’s powerful “Awaiting His Return,” lithograph, 1946, achieved $38,400, and Aaron Douglas’s “Emperor Jones,” a scarce set of four woodcuts on Japan paper, 1926, from the edition of 20, signed and dated 1972, brought $22,800 †these were both top prices for any prints by the artists; and Romare Bearden’s “Homage to Mary Lou (The Piano Lesson),” color lithograph, 1984, sold for a record $16,800.
As in Swann’s previous three sales of African American fine art, benchmarks were established for artists whose work appeared at auction for the first time, including Kay Brown, Tom Feelings, Rex Goreleigh, Theodore Gunn, Barabara Jones-Hogu, Otto Neals, Ann Tanksley, Ed Wilson and George Wilson.
Prices reported include the buyer’s premium. For information, 212-254-4710 or www.swanngalleries.com .
