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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Jean Welz

South African 1900-1975 


Johann Max Friedrich Welz, known by the French version of his name, Jean, was born in Salzburg, Austria, into a family of gilders and picture framers. He studied architecture at the Academy of Applied Arts in Vienna and went to Paris in 1925 to oversee the construction of the Austrian Pavilion at the International Exhibition for Applied Arts. He immersed himself in the flourishing arts and culture scene in Paris and worked on various building projects with prominent Modernist architects such as Le Corbusier, Robert Mallet-Stevens and Adolf Loos. In 1937, Welz, with his wife Inger and firstborn son emigrated to South Africa with a letter of recommendation from Le Corbusier. In Johannesburg he was involved in redesigning and overseeing the rebuilding of the entrance foyer of the Wits University Great Hall after a fire.

Welz’s precarious health forced the family to seek out the dry climate of the Klein Karoo, where they lived in the isolated Tradouw Pass, and then at De Wet outside Worcester. In 1942 Welz was approached to curate the Hugo Naudé Estate after Naudé’s death and he established the Hugo Naudé Art Centre. That year he held successful solo exhibitions in Cape Town, Stellenbosch and Johannesburg and was invited by fellow artist Gregoire Boonzaier to join and exhibit with the New Group.

Welz represented South Africa on the Venice Biennale in 1948 and 1952, and on the São Paulo Biennale in 1957. In the 1960s and 70s paintings by Welz fetched the highest prices of any artist in South Africa. His oeuvre consists of abstracts, still lifes, landscapes, nudes and portraits, often painted in layers of colour glazed or scumbled. Jean Welz was the father of former Managing Director of Strauss & Co, auctioneer Stephan Welz.


173 lots offered      53.18% sold      ZAR 16 156 580
 

  Including Premium and VAT Results include Buyer's Premium and VAT
Jean Welz; Kleinplasie, Merindol
12 Jun 2023
Sold for ZAR 93 800
Incl. Buyer's Premium & VAT
Jean Welz; Still Life: Earthenware and Fruit
16 May 2023
Sold for ZAR 257 950
Incl. Buyer's Premium & VAT
Jean Welz; Pumpkin and Knife
16 May 2023
Starting at ZAR 200 000
 
Jean Welz; The Fire Station, Worcester
28 Mar 2023
Sold for ZAR 117 250
Incl. Buyer's Premium & VAT
Jean Welz; Nude by Wash Stand
28 Mar 2023
Starting at ZAR 180 000
 
Jean Welz; Landscape, Worcester
28 Nov 2022
Starting at ZAR 35 000
 
Jean Welz; Man with Cognac Glass
28 Nov 2022
Starting at ZAR 75 000
 
Jean Welz; Young Girl
22 Nov 2022
Sold for ZAR 28 450
Incl. Buyer's Premium & VAT
Jean Welz; Beaufort Wes Landskap (Beaufort West Landscape)
22 Nov 2022
Sold for ZAR 250 360
Incl. Buyer's Premium & VAT
Jean Welz; Man with Cognac Glass
21 Sep 2022
Starting at ZAR 90 000
 
Jean Welz; Lehenita I
25 Jul 2022
Starting at ZAR 5 000
 
Jean Welz; Hex River with Bathers and the Orange Express
16 May 2022
Sold for ZAR 79 660
Incl. Buyer's Premium & VAT

Results in green indicate post sales.