Blue-chip South African art drives strong results at Strauss & Co

4 Aug 2026

JOHANNESBURG – A remarkable late landscape by J.H. Pierneef, Approaching Storm, Sabi Sands, led Strauss & Co’s live-virtual Evening Sale of Modern and Contemporary Art in Johannesburg on 21 July 2026, confirming sustained collector demand for exceptional examples of South African modernism while reinforcing the company’s strong performance during the first half of the year.

The monumental bushveld landscape sold after multiple bids for R8 177 813 / $490 569, the highest price of the evening. According to family history, Pierneef was inspired by the spectacle of an approaching storm during a visit to the recently incorporated Sabi Sands Private Reserve in 1952, painting the work as a farewell gift to his hosts. It remained a treasured family heirloom for more than seven decades before returning to the market.

The Evening Sale highlighted continued confidence in museum-quality paintings by South Africa’s leading modernists. Maggie Laubser’s Portrait of a Woman in a Red Headscarf (1930) realised R808 675 / $48 511, doubling its estimate and signalling renewed momentum for the pioneering artist’s market. The strong result augurs well for Laubser’s Portrait of a Woman with Headscarf Holding Flowers (estimate R700 000 – 1 000 000 / $42 000 – 60 000), which will be offered in Strauss & Co’s flagship Cape Town Evening Sale on 15 September 2026.

Further notable results included Irma Stern’s Melon Sellers (1951), which sold for R1 062 830 / $63 757, reaffirming the enduring international appeal of one of South Africa’s most celebrated painters. Collectors also competed for works by two artists who came to prominence during the 1980s and whose markets continue to mature. William Kentridge’s aquatint Lillies (2020) achieved R542 968 / $32 571, while Keith Alexander’s surreal late painting Oceanic Landscape (1991), depicting a ship marooned in a desert, realised R750 913 / $45 046.

Although the Evening Sale reflected the selective conditions currently evident across the global art market, Strauss & Co’s broader performance in 2026 demonstrates continued strength and growing engagement from collectors.

Cape Charm: Gregoire Boonzaier Works from a Single-Owner Collection

The momentum of the Evening Sale in Johannesburg continued the following day with the successful timed-online auction Cape Charm: Gregoire Boonzaier Works from a Single-Owner Collection. Comprising still lifes, landscapes, portraits and self-portraits by the much-loved South African modernist, the dedicated single-owner sale achieved a 90% sell-through rate from 32 lots offered. Among the standout results, Still Life in a Jug (1938) realised R229 325 / $13 757, more than two-and-a-half times its pre-sale estimate. The sale reaffirmed Strauss & Co’s longstanding reputation for presenting important private collections.

Strauss & Co’s First-Half 2026 Performance

This ability is reflected in its results across the year to date. Between March and June 2026, the company sold 3 959 lots, representing a 23% increase over the corresponding period in 2025. Buyer participation increased by 15% year on year, while overall sell-through rates remained consistently above 70% across most sales. Competitive bidding also remained robust, with half of all lots selling within or above their estimate, and 40% of works offered in live auctions exceeding their high estimate, underscoring the continued importance of the live auction format for exceptional works.

“The market is undoubtedly more discerning than it was in the boom years of the 2010s, but discerning markets reward quality,” said Frank Kilbourn, Chairperson, Strauss & Co. “Collectors continue to respond enthusiastically to works with outstanding provenance, rarity and art historical importance. The superb result for Pierneef’s Approaching Storm, Sabi Sands, together with the strong performances by Maggie Laubser, Irma Stern, William Kentridge and Keith Alexander, demonstrates that confidence remains strong where quality is exceptional. Equally encouraging is the continued growth we are seeing across the business, with more buyers participating, more lots sold and lively competition for outstanding works.”

Strauss & Co’s successful first half of 2026 reflects the company’s continued investment in presenting high-quality material across both live and online auctions, while expanding its international reach and collector base.

Consignments Now Open for September and November Sales

The company is now inviting consignments for its forthcoming flagship live sales in Cape Town in September and Johannesburg in November. Collectors considering the sale of important modern and contemporary art are encouraged to contact Strauss & Co’s specialists for confidential valuations and advice. These live auctions offer exceptional opportunities to present significant works to the broadest audience of active local and international collectors.