Chairperson’s Report
23 Feb 2023
Looking back on 2022, it is hard to ignore the happy return to socialising and personal exchange among collectors and devotees of art, wine and decorative collectables after two years of sheltering from the pandemic. The year started nervously, but by February it was clear that the dark clouds of the 2020-21 pandemic were lifting.
Looking back on 2022, it is hard to ignore the happy return to socialising and personal exchange among collectors and devotees of art, wine and decorative collectables after two years of sheltering from the pandemic. The year started nervously, but by February it was clear that the dark clouds of the 2020-21 pandemic were lifting.
Responding to this positive news, in February Strauss & Co hosted an inspiring exhibition of world-class modern and contemporary African art at Welgemeend in Cape Town. Timed to coincide with the Investec Cape Town Art Fair, the exhibition Giving Direction: Figuration, Past and Present provided an opportunity for clients, friends and supporters to gather to celebrate renewal after two disruptive years.
Renewal is not a sudden thing. Strauss & Co learnt many lessons during the Covid-19 pandemic, chief among them the value of committed staff and efficient technology. Strauss & Co’s digital journey preceded the abrupt changes to global trade wrought by the pandemic. Anticipation and incremental changes enabled Strauss & Co to thrive during the pandemic.
In 2022 we continued to adapt, innovate and change in order to better serve our clients and reach new international audiences. One striking example of Strauss & Co’s new digital reach was the sale, in November 2022, of Irma Stern’s 1940 portrait African Woman for R5 600 000 ($327 417) to a new client from Asia.
In many respects, 2022 was a year of internal transition for Strauss & Co. Capital was committed to modernising the organisational structure of the company and to further updating its technology. Strategic staff were hired, and existing staff redeployed to better suit their competencies and career aspirations within the company. The physical distance between the Cape Town and Johannesburg offices was gapped. The Cape Town office also moved into new, larger premises with exhibition facilities, ready to start afresh in 2023. A revitalised sense of mission has been achieved.
These internal developments are largely invisible to our clients, but they are central to ensuring that Strauss & Co remains an agile, client-centric and results-orientated auction house.
For collectors, 2022 was a year of opportunity and challenge. It broadly remains a buyer’s market, in large part due to turbulent macroeconomic circumstances and their impacts on liquidity. Political turmoil and infrastructure challenges remain a stark theme of doing business in South Africa. Globally, China’s longer than anticipated lockdown coupled with an unexpected war in Ukraine caused major business disruption. Interest rate hikes and the mounting costs of energy added to the difficulties of doing business in 2022.
Exceeding expectations, no matter what, has always been the Strauss & Co way.
This drive is reflected in our overall performance for 2022. Strauss & Co sold 6381 lots at 55 auction sessions held in 2022, earning a total income of R354 million ($20.8 million). This result is hugely creditable given that in 2021 we earned R356 million ($20.9 million) from the sale of over 8 500 lots, the largest volume ever traded in a single year by the company.
We had to work really hard to achieve this positive outcome. How did we do it? Focus. Particular attention was given to the form and content of Strauss & Co’s four marquee live-virtual auctions, as well as the quota of monthly online-only auctions. Auctions were carefully curated and we expanded our standalone sales devoted to specific artists and media.
Our strong emphasis on curation yielded positive results. Strauss & Co hosted nine “white glove” auctions in which 100% of the lots on offer sold. The wine department excelled, scoring eight perfect sales, disproving early criticisms of Strauss & Co’s foray into collectable wines.
It was immensely gratifying to see all 140 works in the first-ever auction entirely devoted to Irma Stern sell. The outcome of this sale was a wonderful celebration of a great artist and affirmed the value of modernist South African art as a bankable asset. It was especially pleasing to see a third of the works in this landmark sale go to new clients.
Strauss & Co presented four single-artists auctions in 2022, including standalone sales for Robert Hodgins, William Kentridge and J. H. Pierneef. The depth of interest in Pierneef, one of our Old Masters, is remarkable. New buyers accounted for roughly half of the successful bidders. The bulk of the people placing bids were aged between 40 and 59, which is very encouraging.
Strauss & Co is a guardian for blue-chip artists but recognises the importance of affirming undervalued South African artists. In April, we drew attention to the work of George Pemba in a sale. Other artists spotlighted for attention throughout 2022 included Albert Adams, Gregoire Boonzaier, Josephine Ghesa, Kate Gottgens, Job Kekana, Sipho Ndlovu, Fred Schimmel, Simon Stone, Alfred Thoba and Vladimir Tretchikoff. These focuses are key to ensuring that the contributions of these important artists are not forgotten.
In November, Strauss & Co successfully hosted a sale of 300 lots assembled by the art dealer and collector Dr Matthys Strydom. Matthys was a true connoisseur of art and an important mentor in my own journey as a collector. Much like Louis Schachat, whose legacy was celebrated in a Strauss & Co-sponsored exhibition titled Homage: Erken/Verken at Welgemeend during August Art Month, Matthys was unafraid to look laterally and support artists he believed in. It was satisfying to see collectors bid premium prices for lesser-celebrated – but no less important – artists such as Hardy Botha, Claude Bouscharain, Carl Büchner, George Ramagaga, Olivia Scholnick and Eben van der Merwe during the sale of the Matthys Strydom Family Collection.
Southern African artists hold roughly half the market share of the total auction sales by African artists, according to a report by London-based analytics firm ArtTactic. The report further revealed that Strauss & Co is South Africa’s largest auction house, accounting for 57% of the Southern African auction market from 2016 to 2021. It also reported that Strauss & Co is the leading auction house for works by William Kentridge.
Taking this positive message globally has been a priority for Strauss & Co. The company was the lead sponsor of the African Art in Venice Forum, a satellite event at the 2022 Venice Biennale. We also shared in the joy of William Kentridge’s auspicious survey exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts by hosting a lecture series and two walkabouts of the exhibition for collectors in London.
Strauss & Co is uniquely positioned as an auction house rooted in Africa. In a bid to underscore its commitment to art from the African continent, Strauss & Co launched a fortnightly news digest titled African Art Business Newsletter. This project forms part of a larger strategic initiative to diversify its portfolio to include modern and contemporary art from other parts of the continent.
In February 2023, Strauss & Co will launch a new live auction focussed on pan-African art. Titled Curatorial Voices: Modern and Contemporary Art from Africa, this curated auction will feature works by modernist pioneers and contemporary trailblazers chosen by five curators from important art centres across the continent.
This year we bid farewell to Vanessa Phillips. “VP”, as she is affectionately known, has been an indomitable presence at Strauss & Co since its beginnings in 2009 and an overall force for good. Vanessa has always led by example. Her wide range of expertise, commitment to excellence and work ethic underscore what it takes to grow and thrive in the auction field. After nearly five decades, Vanessa has decided to retire. We thank her for her immense contribution and will treasure her legacy. Her association with Strauss & Co will however continue, as will her presence at important public events in 2023.
These include two exhibitions, first in Cape Town and then Johannesburg, to mark the publication of a catalogue raisonné for the sculptures of Sydney Kumalo and Ezrom Legae by authors Gavin Watkins and Charles Skinner. Strauss & Co, guided by Vanessa, is the chief sponsor of this book.
The decision to sponsor this ambitious project, and many others, is founded on a simple but steadfast premise. We relish our role as co-custodian of pioneering Southern African artists and love engaging with clients and sharing in their passion for art and wine. It is part of our DNA as a company.
I would like to end by expressing our deep appreciation to all our employees and suppliers for their enthusiasm, commitment and passion for the business, for always looking for ways to become better and smarter, to go the extra mile.
Finally, on behalf of the directors and staff, my sincere thanks and appreciation go to our clients for their on-going support and feedback. May 2023 be a rewarding year for all of us.
Current Press Releases
October
- 1 Oct 2024 October ART - a feast of art, sculpture, lithography and books
- 2 Oct 2024 Strauss & Co unearths rare Single Cask Brandies in a new and exclusive Cape Fine Brandy Auction
September
- 3 Sep 2024 September ART
- 4 Sep 2024 A peak-period Tretchikoff painting, suffused with beauty and glamour, leads Strauss & Co’s September Auction Week
- 18 Sep 2024 Auction Record for Tretchikoff
- 24 Sep 2024 Works by Chagall and Picasso headed for Toyota Stellenbosch Woordfees, courtesy of Strauss & Co
- 25 Sep 2024 Strauss & Co hosts “YGGDRASIL” at Toyota Stellenbosch Woordfees 2024
- 30 Sep 2024 LIGHTING UP LONDON THIS OCTOBER: LOOKING TOWARDS FREEDOM – Womxn Artists from Africa
August
- 13 Aug 2024 The Appointment of Strauss & Co's Advisory Board Members
- 26 Aug 2024 Ways of Seeing: South African and International Photography
- 30 Aug 2024 From ceramics to tapestry, painting to photography, furniture to glass, Strauss & Co announces its rich spring auction programme
July
- 10 Jul 2024 Sculpted Narratives: Exploring the malleable qualities of ceramic art
- 12 Jul 2024 Debut Pretoria Auction at Pierneef’s Former Home & Studio
- 22 Jul 2024 Pretoria auction confirms sustained collector appetite for Nico Masemola, Hylton Nel and J.H. Pierneef
- 23 Jul 2024 Together for Pangolins: Charity Auction
- 27 Jul 2024 August Art Month at Welgemeend
- 31 Jul 2024 August ART, with a focus on art from KwaZulu-Natal
June
- 3 Jun 2024 Sweets & Fortified Wine Auction: a rich offering of vintage wines that have stood the test of time
- 4 Jun 2024 Revisiting the work of South African painter Lettie Gardiner in Strauss & Co’s diverse June online ART sale
- 5 Jun 2024 Announcing the 2024 Cassirer Welz Award Recipient
- 9 Jun 2024 Strauss & Co Presents: South African Design, Past & Present - A Celebration of Artisanal Excellence
- 10 Jun 2024 The people have voted: SA artists at the 2024 Venice Biennale come up tops at Strauss & Co’s Johannesburg auction
- 19 Jun 2024 Art Rooted in Nature: A Celebration of South African Art inspired by the Natural World
- 28 Jun 2024 Strauss & Co auction celebrates the heritage and global impact of Eastern Cape artists
- 29 Jun 2024 Single-Owner Private Collection of Fine Wines from Bordeaux, Rhône Valley, South Africa, Italy and more going under the hammer.
May
- 6 May 2024 Art for all Seasons in Strauss & Co’s May Online Sale including a selection of works from the Cecil and Thelma Skotnes Estate
- 7 May 2024 Single-Owner Private Collection of Fine Wines from Burgundy, Bordeaux, Rhône Valley, and More to Be Auctioned by Strauss & Co
- 8 May 2024 A major Stern painting from 1930 leads Strauss & Co’s diverse catalogue of modern and contemporary art at its May sale in Johannesburg
- 8 May 2024 Strauss & Co expands its regional presence, offering valuations, sales & talks across the country
- 9 May 2024 The Diamond Edition Day & Evening Sale
- 17 May 2024 The irrepressible Irma Stern, a star of multiple editions of the Venice Biennale, leads Strauss & Co’s Johannesburg Evening Sale
- 22 May 2024 Two important drawings by William Kentridge, an artist revered globally, at Strauss & Co auction in Johannesburg
- 31 May 2024 Strauss & Co Announces Nature-Inspired Art Auction to Coincide with Hermanus Fynarts Festival 2024
April
- 2 Apr 2024 Myths, Legends, Deities: Strauss & Co explores historical and cultural narratives through art
- 8 Apr 2024 Through an African Lens: Strauss & Co announces sponsorship and event guide to 2024 Venice Biennale
- 16 Apr 2024 Do you know the value of your art? Strauss & Co to host valuation day in Windhoek
- 26 Apr 2024 Reflections on how the 2024 Venice Biennale is an inflection point for change - Frank Kilbourn, Executive Chairperson, Strauss & Co
March
- 4 Mar 2024 Important Collection of original works by 19th-Century Artist Thomas Bowler Goes Up for Auction
- 4 Mar 2024 ART WORLD LEADERS: Marlene Dumas, Irma Stern & Lisa Brice this month at Strauss & Co
- 4 Mar 2024 The Venice Connection: Strauss & Co auction features more than a dozen artists feted at the Venice Biennale since 1950
- 7 Mar 2024 Strauss & Co to offer a highly important Zanzibar portrait by Irma Stern with excellent museum credentials
- 25 Mar 2024 A Collector’s Cornucopia: Furniture, Ceramics & Silver at Strauss & Co
- 26 Mar 2024 Brisk trade at Strauss & Co’s late-summer auction culminates in red-hot prices for works by Brice, Preller, Stern and Sekoto
February
- 5 Feb 2024 Rhône-Themed Auction kicks off first Strauss & Co wine auctions for the year
- 9 Feb 2024 Woven Legacies – Celebrating the evolution of artisanal craftsmanship
- 12 Feb 2024 Strauss & Co Opens in London
- 26 Feb 2024 Strauss & Co is a vital contributor to Cape Town’s pulsating month of summer art activities
- 29 Feb 2024 But is it Surrealist? London audiences will finally get to see and debate Alexis Preller’s audacious symbolist paintings
- 29 Feb 2024 The 2014 Vintage plays the starring role in the Strauss & Co March wine auction
January
- 30 Jan 2024 A special focus on The White House Gallery in Strauss & Co’s online sale showcases rare international prints
- 30 Jan 2024 A new exhibition by Strauss & Co and Kalashnikovv Gallery celebrates the legacy of South African Modernist Alfred Thoba
- 30 Jan 2024 Chairperson's Report
- 31 Jan 2024 Important Cinga Samson painting leads 2024 edition of Strauss & Co’s collaborative African art auction
December
- 12 Dec 2023 Rare abstract and ceramic works characterise Strauss & Co’s current month-long sale ‘View/Re/View’
November
- 2 Nov 2023 Internationally acclaimed but irrefutably South African: Strauss & Co’s marquee summer auction features important works by Billie Zangewa and William Kentridge
- 3 Nov 2023 Strauss & Co Unveils Exclusive Online Sale of Chinese Decorative Arts Masterpieces
- 11 Nov 2023 William Kentridge’s Cat Steals the Show at Johannesburg Auction Week
- 15 Nov 2023 Strauss & Co Unveils Enchanting Online Watch and Jewellery Sales
- 23 Nov 2023 Strauss & Co’s penultimate online auction for 2023 features a focus on Line | Colour | Shape | Form
- 24 Nov 2023 CALLING FOR CONSIGNMENTS: Paintings by J.H. Pierneef and Cinga Samson headline second-instalment of Strauss & Co’s Africa-focused auction in February 2024
- 27 Nov 2023 Strauss & Co and The Nel Erasmus Art Legacy Trust Present Conflux: A Retrospective by South African Postwar Artist Nel Erasmus
October
- 2 Oct 2023 With a focus on Studies and Drawings, Strauss & Co’s October online auction appeals to established and first-time collectors
- 4 Oct 2023 Recently discovered Renoir painting headlines Strauss & Co’s dynamic programme for Toyota US Woordfees
- 9 Oct 2023 Toyota US Woordfees presents exciting Benefit auction featuring established and emerging artists
- 11 Oct 2023 Strauss & Co’s Johannesburg Auction Week celebrates a century of unbroken creativity and invention in African Art
- 19 Oct 2023 Showpiece Renoir leads Strauss & Co’s 111-lot sale of international modern and contemporary art
- 23 Oct 2023 Fresh-to-market paintings by Pierneef, Preller, Sekoto and Stern to be sold during Johannesburg Auction Week
- 27 Oct 2023 International buyers flock to Strauss & Co’s spotlight auction featuring Chagall, Miró and an undiscovered Renoir
- 31 Oct 2023 Moses Tladi and Gerard Sekoto, who opened museum doors for black artists, lead an impressive offering of black moderns at Johannesburg Auction Week
September
- 4 Sep 2023 Strauss & Co Presents a Captivating Auction: Modern and Contemporary Art with a focus on Renowned Artist Alice Goldin
- 7 Sep 2023 Works from important single-owner and contemporary art with museum pedigree lead Strauss & Co’s marquee spring sale
- 12 Sep 2023 Exquisite Selection of Bordeaux and Bordeaux-Style South African Wines to Go Under the Hammer at Strauss & Co
- 21 Sep 2023 Unseen Renoir from South African collection, recently authenticated in Paris, headlines Strauss & Co’s globe-spanning auction
- 21 Sep 2023 Scandinavian designers, French winemakers and a canonical South African painter charm buyers at Strauss & Co’s spring sales
August
- 8 Aug 2023 Strauss & Co’s August online sale covers half a century of South African ceramic art
- 18 Aug 2023 Rare collections of the World's leading wines to be sold as single bottles
- 28 Aug 2023 Highly important Zanzibar portrait by Irma Stern of praying man poised to go under the hammer at Strauss & Co
- 28 Aug 2023 Leading/Inspirational businesswomen, Khetiwe McClain and Jo-Ann Strauss, join Strauss & Co
July
- 3 Jul 2023 Strauss & Co’s upcoming timed online auction provides art collectors with a special focus on the Eastern Cape
- 14 Jul 2023 J. H. Pierneef: Close to Home traces a half-century of innovation and unbroken fascination with the South African landscape
- 14 Jul 2023 Jewels Online: LAUNCH EDITION - Classic emeralds to contemporary designs
- 18 Jul 2023 August Art Month at Welgemeend celebrates the geography, essence and history of the Western Cape
June
- 7 Jun 2023 Strauss & Co’s June Timed Online Auction Features Renowned Contemporary and Early 20th Century Artists
- 8 Jun 2023 Wines from Burgundy & Champagne
- 9 Jun 2023 Rare collections of the world’s leading wines to be sold, together with a uniquely minted NFT, by Strauss & Co.
- 21 Jun 2023 Strauss & Co honours sculptors past and present with a dedicated sale and exhibition
- 26 Jun 2023 Strauss & Co Celebrating Silver
May
- 3 May 2023 Strauss & Co confirms its rock-solid reputation with a catalogue of blue-chip works by South African modernists for its May auction
- 3 May 2023 Strauss & Co's May Timed Online Auction Celebrates Namibian Landscape Art
- 12 May 2023 Rare and Fine Wine from Italy and Spain going under the hammer
- 12 May 2023 From Azaria to Zerffi – an eclectic collection from an art connoisseur family
- 17 May 2023 Rare colour work by exiled south African artist Dumile Feni sells for new world record price at Strauss & Co sale in Johannesburg
April
- 5 Apr 2023 April Timed Online Auction with a focus on Portraits, Heads and Character Studies
- 6 Apr 2023 The 2023 Cassirer Welz Award Winner
- 20 Apr 2023 Important Black Modernist Artists Lead Strauss & Co May Auction In Johannesburg
March
- 2 Mar 2023 Strong results at Strauss & Co’s maiden auction of modern and contemporary art from Africa
- 6 Mar 2023 Strauss & Co’s upcoming March timed online auction celebrates colour and nuance
- 13 Mar 2023 Strauss & Co bring important works by Pierneef, Preller, Stern and Tretchikoff to market
- 23 Mar 2023 Strauss & Co’s strong catalogue of women artists tracks a history of innovation from Maggie Laubser and Irma Stern to Sethembile Msezane and Ruby Swinney
- 23 Mar 2023 Art Nouveau: The Birth of Modern Style with Guest Lecturer, Dr Gregorio Thaon di Revel Mazzonis di Pralafera
- 29 Mar 2023 Record price for Irma Stern at Strauss & Co sale affirms South Africa’s status as the best marketplace to trade artworks by premium South African modernists
February
- 2 Feb 2023 Important Announcements from Frank Kilbourn, Strauss & Co Executive Chairperson
- 6 Feb 2023 Strauss & Co kicks off 2023 with a revitalised programme of online auctions
- 14 Feb 2023 Celebrating Esias Bosch’s centenary
- 16 Feb 2023 Strauss & Co and SANAVA partner on charity auction to secure artists’ studios in Paris
- 16 Feb 2023 The 2023 Strauss & Co Fine Wine Rhône-themed auction is one of our finest line-ups yet, featuring iconic producers from France, South Africa and the New World.
- 23 Feb 2023 Chairperson’s Report
- 27 Feb 2023 Strauss & Co’s Curatorial Voices auction maps the story of art from Gerard Sekoto to Cinga Samson
- 27 Feb 2023 "Art is a human virtue and I have given my whole self to it, for it promotes understanding among races rather than destroys it."—Gerard Sekoto
December
November
- 1 Nov 2022 Irma Stern’s bold portrait of a modern woman presents an opportunity for collectors
- 2 Nov 2022 Strauss & Co presents the most prestigious fine wine collection ever to come to market in SA
- 11 Nov 2022 Strauss & Co’s final live sale of 2022 honours the legacy of art collector, Dr Matthys Johannes Strydom
- 11 Nov 2022 Broad interest in historical and contemporary art underpins Strauss & Co’s solid results
- 18 Nov 2022 Strauss & Co presents works owned by Matthys Strydom, art dealer and storyteller extraordinaire
- 24 Nov 2022 The pedigree of art dealer and collector Matthys Strydom’s collection sees collectors pay premium prices at Strauss & Co auction
- 24 Nov 2022 Strauss & Co’s upcoming November online-only auction offers art collectors a special focus on the Cape
- 25 Nov 2022 Twinkle-twinkle little star, how about some Christmas cheer from Strauss & Co?
- 30 Nov 2022 Norval Foundation Benefit Auction 2022
October
- 11 Oct 2022 Strauss & Co heralds summer with a curated programme of Johannesburg sales
- 13 Oct 2022 Strauss & Co to present the first-ever sale exclusively devoted to Robert Hodgins
- 27 Oct 2022 International report identifies Strauss & Co as dominant reseller of works by William Kentridge
- 27 Oct 2022 Strauss & Co’s sculpture-only sale explores the story of SA sculpture, from past to present