Specialists
The Oval, Cape Town
Vanessa Phillips
Trained as a ceramic restorer, Vanessa founded the first Porcelain Restoration School in South Africa in 1984. She joined Stephan Welz & Co, in association with Sotheby's, as a ceramic specialist in 1988 and, during the next twenty years, broadened her expertise to include furniture, silver and glass. Through her knowledge of local and international decorative and fine art she has introduced many important private collections to the auction market.
Ann Palmer
Born and educated in the UK, Ann Palmer has been living in South Africa since 1964. She has worked at various art galleries since the 1970s and has been on the Council of the Friends of the South African National Gallery for ten years. Ann commenced with Stephan Welz & Co, in association with Sotheby's in 1990 and has been involved with the auction world ever since. She was delighted to join Stephan Welz in his new venture, Strauss & Co., at the beginning of 2009 to head up the Paintings Department in Cape Town.
Bina Genovese
Bina has worked in the art auction world both locally and internationally for over twenty years. After completing her BA HONS at Wits she obtained a diploma for the one year Decorative and Fine Arts course at Christie's in London. On her return to Johannesburg she joined Stephan Welz & Co, in association with Sotheby's, in the Decorative Arts and Client Services departments. She emigrated to Italy after two years, becoming part of the management team at Christie's. She moved to Cape Town nine years later and re-joined Stephan Welz & Co, in association with Sotheby's, as manager of the Cape Town office.
Emma Bedford
Emma Bedford is highly regarded both locally and internationally, having played an unequalled role as Senior Curator and Head of Art Collections at Iziko South African National Gallery and as Director of Goodman Gallery Cape. She is an acknowledged expert in modern and contemporary art with particular reference to South African art, has extensive experience in curating exhibitions and managing collections and has authored and edited numerous publications.
Mica Curitz
After obtaining her degree in Humanities at The University of Cape Town, Mica completed a course in art and business at The Sotheby's Institute of Art in London. On her return to Cape Town she joined Stephan Welz & Co, in association with Sotheby's where she became head of the silver department. Three years later she entered the contemporary art world as a consultant. Mica is delighted to be back in the auction world with Strauss & Co.
Houghton, Johannesburg
Elisabeth Bradley
Elisabeth Bradley has a distinguished record in business serving on the Boards of several major South African companies. Her family introduced Toyota vehicles to the South African market. She is a graduate of the University of the Free State and of London University. Throughout her career she has been actively involved in a broad range of education and policy initiatives. She is a keen collector of South African art.
Dr Conrad Strauss
Conrad Strauss joined the Standard Bank in 1963 after lecturing in economics at Rhodes University, becoming Group Managing Director in 1978 and Chairman from 1992 to 2000. He has been actively involved in public life for many years, serving on various business and Governmental advisory bodies and in various education initiatives. Conrad has a long personal and professional commitment to the arts. During his stewardship, the Standard Bank National Arts Festival in Grahamstown expanded to become the centrepiece of the creative and performing arts in South Africa.
Stephan Welz
Stephan is the longest practising fine art expert and auctioneer in South Africa with over 35 years of experience with Sotheby's in London, Amsterdam and South Africa. He has a vast knowledge of South African art and antiques making him the most respected “Generalist” in these fields. He has presided over most of the major South African art and antique auctions and holds the most auction records.
Mary-Jane Darroll
Mary-Jane, who is an MA graduate in Fine Arts from Wits University, is a former Curator of the Standard Bank Gallery and Corporate Collection. During her tenure at the Bank, she was Fine Art Co-Ordinator of the Standard Bank National Arts Festival in Grahamstown. Subsequently, she was Head of the Paintings Department at Stephan Welz & Co, in association with Sotheby's, and later a Director of the Everard Read Gallery in Johannesburg.