African American Art: April 2021 Auction Highlights

At Auction April 22, 2021

Early 20th Century & Harlem Renaissance

Featuring the works of Henry Ossawa Tanner, Grafton Tyler Brown, Aaron Douglas, Norman Lewis, Charles White, sculptures by Richmond Barthé, and photographs by James VanDerZee.

Modern Art

A significant oil painting on canvas by Joseph Delaney, Artist’s Studio Party, 1940, and Elizabeth Catlett’s cast bronze Pensive, 1946, as well as prints, paintings, and drawings, by Allan Rohan Crite, Margaret Burroughs, Hartwell Yeargans, Charles McGee, and others.

Post-War Art

Featuring a group of works by AfriCOBRA artists, several significant paintings by Romare Bearden, Beauford Delaney, Alma W. Thomas, Samella Lewis, Sam Gilliam and Hale Woodruff. Also included are woodcuts by Walter H. Williams, screenprints by Jacob Lawrence, and Charles White’s exquisite 1972 etching Pope X, alongside his scarce 1971 color lithograph Blues.

Collection of the Ness Oleson Trust

Worked from the collection of the late Frannie Ness and Gary Oleson, who were the proprietors of Waiting for Godot Books of Hadley, MA, includes both fine and self-taught artists, 1970s abstraction, .

20th Century Contemporary

Featuring Howardena Pindell’s Oval Memory Series: (Rhinoceros) Heaven, 1980-81, multiple pieces by Betye Saar, Romare Bearden, and Elizabeth Catlett, paintings by Hughie Lee-Smith, Loïs Mailou Jones, Ed Clark, Frank W. Wimberly, photographs by Dawoud Bey and Carrie Mae Weems, and works by Kerry James Marshall, David Hammons, and Faith Ringgold.

21st Century Contemporary

Recent works by Rashid Johson, Dindga McCannon, Latoya Ruby Frazier, Sir Frank Bowling, OBE RA, Julie Mehretu, Danny Simmons, Larry Walker, Deanna Lawson, Wosene Worke Kosrof, and others.

What You Need to Know on Auction Day

This auction will be held live and conducted remotely.

There will not be bidding in the room, though we accept order bids, and interested buyers will be able to participate live via the Swann Galleries App. The app is available in the App Store and on Google Play, which can also be accessed on a desktop at live.swanngalleries.com.

Please note: phone bidding registrations will close the day before the sale at 4pm. 

At this time, our exhibition and auction location at 104 East 25th Street is closed to the public. Private viewings are available by appointment only, and must be arranged in advance. To make an appointment please contact the specialist.

Specialist

Nigel Freeman

Director, African American Art

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