Women outperform men with artistic auctions in Africa

In 2024, the five most expensive artworks were sold from African artists, according to one of the research, which reflects the increase in recognition and demand for their works.

For the first time, African artists managed to excel their men’s counterparts in sales of artistic auctions in 2023, but many refused to do so, and they promised him an exceptional case, but this trend continued in 2024, as women maintained a strong share of 52.8% of artistic sales, despite the broader decline in the African Art Market.

“This transformation represents an important moment in the history of the artistic business market, especially since the global sales of artists have not yet reached parity with men,” said Lindsay Diwar, who conducted the research, noting that the African art scene reflects an example of the leadership of women in this field, where the artists flourish and play an exceptional role.

The total value of African artists sales during the past year amounted to 22 million dollars, exceeding 2023, according to Diwar, explaining that five women’s artworks recorded the highest price value among other works by other artists, as the American contemporary American artist, Julie Mehrito, topped the classifications.

Indeed, she was the actress with the best -selling artistic works of 2024, with her abstract painting made of acrylic and ink «Melville» for $ 5.8 million at Christie’s auction.

The African artist (South Africa), Irma Stern, ranked second, whose work was affected by the German expressive, while the two Nigerian artists, Najidika Aconie Crossby, and Toyen Odotola came in third and fourth in a row, while the South African painter Marilyn Dumas ranked fifth, and the works of the four artists were sold for more than a million dollars.

While the technical business market is slowing down, as it decreased by 27% in general, and 45% in the African sector in particular, the continuous success of women in this field indicates a fundamental change, not temporary volatility.

The head of the art department in the auctions of the “Strauss and Partners” in South Africa, Alexeer Merridith, is not surprised by the sexes between the sexes, noting that “from the perspective of South Africa, some of the highest valuable artists, whether they are contemporary or non -contemporary, are women.”

The “Strauss and Co.” is witnessing an increasing demand for the works of African artists, including Esther Mahlango, known for its vibrant engineering works that carry the traditions of the art of “Nadiblli”.

The value of the works of artists such as Dumas and Lennett Yadum Bouaki, a British artist of Ghanaian origin, was estimated at millions of dollars in London auctions and New York.

“Some of the highest valuable and higher artists are certainly on the contemporary side, they are women,” Merridith said, citing the Goddis Magodlando, as she is an artist from South Africa who did not receive sufficient appreciation historically, but she is now gaining renewed recognition.

He added, “Despite her talent, her career was unjustly ignored as black diagrams during the era of apartheid, and her chances were limited.” He pointed out that Majdlandlo, who learned herself, was affected by the arts of murals in the two languages ​​of Venjo and Josa, and was mainly drawing vibrant landscapes.

The Foundation and CEO of the Pavilon 54 platform for digital art, Dana Ando Ferrera, said that with the global interest in contemporary African art, women began receiving the appreciation that is appropriate for them.

She added, “Several artists are restoring the scene, and throughout the continent, African artists are no longer on the sidelines, but rather the pioneers of modernity,” citing artists such as Peugeot Alatis from Nigeria, Zaniel Mohouli and Angui Nikki Nikosi from South Africa. On the “Guardian”

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Equality factors

The CEO of Research Company, Art Tactic, Lindsay Diwar, attributed the new gender parity market in Africa to several factors, including the inclusion of the works of African artists in major contemporary sales, instead of limiting the specialized African artistic auctions, noting that this show alongside senior Western artists, such as Andy Warhol, gives their works a greater vision of vision The credibility, adds heavy, and said: “There was a broader movement towards increasing the acting of female artists, with auction role and entities of antiques to diversify their groups.” She added, “It also contributed to the interest in the younger artists, with new generations entering the art world on an equal footing, as the number of artists whose works were sold in auctions increased by 130% since 2015.”

. 22 million dollars the total value of African artists sales last year.