Four Beauford Delaney Works to be Auctioned on April 2, 2026

On April 2, 2026, Swann Auction Galleries will offer two of Beauford's early portraits and two of his vibrant abstracts—all works on paper—for auction at its African American Art Sale.

Swann offered both portraits for purchase at its Autumn 2017 sale of African American Fine Art.

Lot 9
Untitled (Portrait of a Young Man in Suit and Tie)
(circa 1940) Color pastels on pale gray wove paper
23 1/2 x 18 1/2 in. (59.7 x 47 cm.)
Image courtesy of Swann Auction Galleries
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator
Courtesy of Michael Rosenfeld Gallery, LLC, New York, NY

Lot 10
Untitled (Portrait of a Young Man)
(circa 1937-40) Color pastels on pale green wove paper
24 1/2 x 18.875 in. (62.5 x 48 cm.)
Image courtesy of Swann Auction Galleries
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator
Courtesy of Michael Rosenfeld Gallery, LLC, New York, NY

Both works are valued at $7,000 - $10,000.

Biographer David Leeming writes of Beauford having two solo exhibitions in Autumn 1938—one at the 8th Street Playhouse in NYC and one at Gallery C in Washington—where most of the works shown were portraits. I have not been able to determine whether Untitled (Portrait of a Young Man) was one of them.

Regarding the abstracts to be auctioned, Ibiza is a signed and dated watercolor on heavy wove paper. It is depicted in the catalog for the Beauford Delaney: From New York to Paris exhibition mounted by the Minneapolis Institute of Arts in 2004.

Lot 55
Ibiza
(1956) Watercolor on heavy wove paper
Signed, titled and dated ‘56 in ball point pen and ink, lower right
18 x 11 3/4 in. (45.7 x 29.8 cm.)
Image courtesy of Swann Auction Galleries
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator
Courtesy of Michael Rosenfeld Gallery, LLC, New York, NY

This work is dissimilar to others for which Beauford expressly mentioned Ibiza in the title. Read about them HERE.

The second abstract is untitled. It is a signed and dated watercolor on paper as well. Swann reports that Beauford gave it to Ruth Watt Métraux, a friend of Gloria and James Jones (who were great supporters of Beauford), and that the work was passed on to the current owner by descent.

Lot 63
Untitled (Abstract Composition)
Watercolor on cream laid paper, 1963
Signed, dated and inscribed "Paris" in graphite, lower right
17 1/2 x 12 in. (44.5 x 30.5 cm.)
Image courtesy of Swann Auction Galleries
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator
Courtesy of Michael Rosenfeld Gallery, LLC, New York, NY

The colors of the untitled abstract fairly glow. For me, they evoke the life and hope of spring.

The estimated sale price of Ibiza is $30,000 - $40,000.

The estimated sale price of Untitled (Abstract Composition) is $20,000 - $30,000.

For information about the sale, click HERE.

More of Beauford's Blues

I recently came across an article on color psychology that described various reactions to and interpretations of the color "blue."

It reminded me that Les Amis has published two articles about Beauford's use of this color:

Beauford's Blues - Part 1

Beauford"s Blues - Part 2

And it inspired me to look for additional works that feature light blue, a color that is frequently associated with relaxation, tranquility, and peace.

Untitled
(1960) Gouache and watercolor on paper
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator
Courtesy of Michael Rosenfeld Gallery, LLC, New York, NY

Self-portrait
(Undated) Oil on board
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator
Courtesy of Michael Rosenfeld Gallery, LLC, New York, NY

Untitled
(1962) Oil on canvas
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator
Courtesy of Michael Rosenfeld Gallery, LLC, New York, NY

Beauford's Geographies

The Light Beyond the Canvas catalog for The Beauford Delaney Papers—the largest existing archive for Beauford's life and work—provides an intriguing glimpse into the wonders of this archive, which is held by the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives at the University of Tennessee Knoxville University Libraries.

Light Beyond the Canvas catalog
© Les Amis de Beauford Delaney

The catalog places considerable emphasis on Beauford's "geographies"—the places and spaces he navigated in Knoxville, New York, and Paris. A sketchbook map of the Odéon and Saint Germain districts of Paris illustrates this beautifully.

Left Bank Paris Map, c. 1950s
Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives,
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator
Courtesy of Michael Rosenfeld Gallery, LLC, New York, NY

Seeing this image in the catalog reminded me of the Beauford Delaney in Saint-Germain-des-Prés walking tour that Entrée to Black Paris tours created to support the exhibition the library has curated to celebrate the acquisition of the archive.

It also inspired me to look up the article about Beauford in Saint Germain that Les Amis published in April 2015:

Beauford's Paris: Saint Germain des Prés

This is one of many articles that fall under the category "Beauford's Paris." Les Amis has published numerous articles about Beauford's haunts in Knoxville, Boston, and New York City as well.

Light Beyond the Canvas will be on display in the exhibit area of the University Libraries through May 2026.

Nadeau's Sells Beauford's Abstract Composition in Red

On February 21, 2026, Nadeau's Auction Gallery of Windsor, CT offered Beauford's Abstract Composition in Red for sale during its 2026 Custom Furnishings, Antiques, Fine Art, & Decor auction.

Abstract Composition in Red
(undated) Oil on paper
Marked lower right Beauford Delaney
24″ x 17 1/2″ sheet
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator
Courtesy of Michael Rosenfeld Gallery, LLC, New York, NY

The estimated sale price for the work was $800 to $1200.

It sold for $20,740, including a 22% buyer's premium.

For details about the sale, click HERE.