Increasing emphasis has been placed, in recent years, on the investment value of contemporary South African art. This interest can be largely ascribed to the fact that a significant number of South African artists are reaching international status, and have been invited to join the stables of some of the most prestigious galleries in New York, London and Europe.
In addition, the leading international auction houses - Sotheby's, Christie's, Phillips and Bonhams - now regularly include contemporary South African art in their sales, often attaining record prices for the artists. In July 2008, celebrated South African-born artist, Marlene Dumas (now permanently based in Amsterdam), became the world's most expensive living woman artist at auction, when her painting, The Visitor, fetched 3.2 million pounds (R47 million at the time) at Sotheby's in London.
While original paintings still command higher prices than works on paper, an increasing number of South African and international collectors -in the last 15 years - have begun to realise the value of collecting original, limited-edition prints. Besides William Kentridge, whose superb etchings and lithographs have earned him a stellar international reputation (Time Magazine recently named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world today), there are many other outstanding, contemporary South African printmakers, whose works on paper are being eagerly snapped up - largely on account of their increasing investment potential. As an example of this trend, a medium-sized colour etching by Claudette Schreuders, which one could easily have purchased for around R 1500 some five hears ago, is now more difficult to come by and is worth close to R7 000!
Over the last decade and a half, South African artists, too, have responded to this growing interest, and many leading names - including Robert Hodgins, Deborah Bell, Norman Catherine, Beezy Bailey, Conrad Botes, Colbert Mashile, Sam Nhlengethwa, Kathryn Smith, Jeremy Wafer - have produced major works in various print media, so adding to the escalating value of original, limited-edition prints.
Our current online exhibition, From the Graphic Drawer, offers a selection of original prints by 50 contemporary, South African artists (from the late 1980s to the present) at very competitive prices. These prices are valid until 15 November 2009 only.
Please Note:
- The prices quoted are exclusive of the 14% South African VAT, which must be added to the above prices. Clients domiciled overseas, however, do not have to pay this VAT, if the works are being exported to them abroad.
- Most of the original prints on our online exhibition are unframed. Where the works are framed, however, the prices quoted include the frames|.
- All dimensions are given in centimetres, height x width. (To convert centimetres into inches, please divide the centimetres by 2.5. For example: 40 x 50 cm would be equivalent to 16 x 20 inches).
