Artists

From Albert Adams to Portia Zvavahera, Strauss & Co maintains a detailed database of every artist sold at auction since 2009. Whether it is painting, sculpture, works on paper, photography, ceramics or new media, this searchable database lists by artist every lot offered and provides aggregated data useful to collectors. Famous South African artists like William Kentridge, JH Pierneef, Alexis Preller and Irma Stern are introduced with helpful biographies along with the best contemporary artists.



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Helmut Starcke

South African 1935-2017 


Helmut Starke was born in West Germany in 1935. He completed an apprenticeship at the Werbekunst Publicity Studio, Frankfurt and went on to work as a graphic designer for J Walter Thompson, Frankfurt. Starke then moved to Cape Town to work at P N Barrett Advertising and Lindsay Smithers (Cape) Pty Advertising. In 1973, he was appointed as a full-time lecturer in Graphic Design at the University of Cape Town's Michaelis School of Fine Art. Starke participated in numerous solo and group shows; most notably in the 1964 and 1966 Venice Biennale and the 1963 Sao Paolo Biennale.

Starke often used his art to critique social and political issues, drawing inspiration from Pop Art-particularly artists like Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein-as well as from Photorealism and Surrealism. He experimented with visual ambiguities by merging two environments within a single picture plane and manipulating light and color to transcend the objectivity of the photographic source images.


39 lots offered      64.10% sold      ZAR 1 589 419
 

  Including Premium and VAT Results include Buyer's Premium and VAT
Helmut Starcke; Prayer 7 (For Enlightenment)
24 Jun 2025
Sold for ZAR 70 350
Incl. Buyer's Premium & VAT
Helmut Starcke; For Cherylle #1
24 Jun 2025
Sold for ZAR 35 175
Incl. Buyer's Premium & VAT
Helmut Starcke; Haystack
10 Mar 2025
Sold for ZAR 2 345
Incl. Buyer's Premium & VAT
Helmut Starcke; Burning Baobabs
11 Nov 2024
ZAR 60 000 - 90 000
 
Helmut Starcke; Abstract in Pink, Orange and Blue
9 Sep 2024
Sold for ZAR 3 518
Incl. Buyer's Premium & VAT
Helmut Starcke; Caprivi On My Mind #0
8 May 2023
Sold for ZAR 234 500
Incl. Buyer's Premium & VAT
Helmut Starcke; Love
28 Mar 2023
Starting at ZAR 80 000
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Helmut Starcke; Clumsy Angel II
28 Mar 2023
Sold for ZAR 93 800
Incl. Buyer's Premium & VAT
Helmut Starcke; Alles sal Regkom
28 Nov 2022
ZAR 40 000 - 60 000
 
Helmut Starcke; Handsome Alien
22 Nov 2022
Sold for ZAR 193 460
Incl. Buyer's Premium & VAT
Helmut Starcke; Matrix
3 Nov 2022
Sold for ZAR 91 040
Incl. Buyer's Premium & VAT
Helmut Starcke; Feminine Mystique
25 Jul 2022
ZAR 180 000 - 240 000
 

Results in green indicate post sales.