Results of April 2021 Swann Auction Galleries African American Art Sale

Swann Auction Galleries auctioned two of Beauford's works at its April 22, 2021 African American Art Sale.

Untitled (African Figure) sold for $125,000, including buyer's premium*.

Untitled (African Figure)
(1968) Oil on cotton canvas
610x502 mm; 24x19 3/4 inches
Signed and dated in oil, lower left
Image courtesy of Swann Auction Galleries
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator

Untitled (Tent Interior) sold for $137,000 (including buyer's premium), far exceeding the estimated sale price of $30,000 to $40,000. 

Two Beauford Delaney Works at Swann Auction Galleries' African Art Sale

Swann Auction Galleries' upcoming African American Art Sale is being held on April 22, 2021. Two Beauford Delaney paintings are now available for purchase.

Untitled (African Figure) was created when Beauford lived at his rue Vercingétorix studio. It comes from the original collection of James and Gloria Joyce, whom James Baldwin introduced to Beauford in July 1958. The Joyces would go on to commission several paintings from Beauford, including a portrait of James Joyce.

Untitled (African Figure)
(1968) Oil on cotton canvas
610x502 mm; 24x19 3/4 inches
Signed and dated in oil, lower left
Image courtesy of Swann Auction Galleries
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator

The estimated sale price of this work, which has been assigned Lot Number 67, is $120,000 - $180,000. 

The mirror image of Untitled (African Figure), a multi-hued oil monoprint on paper, was displayed by the Knoxville Museum of Art during its Through the Unusual Door exhibition in 2020.

Untitled (African Figure)
(circa 1968) Oil monoprint on paper
Knoxville Museum of Art, 2018 Beauford Delaney Purchase
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator
Photo © Les Amis de Beauford Delaney

 

The other Beauford Delaney work being auctioned in April is a pastel on paper, dated 1951. Assigned Lot No. 101, its estimated sale price is $30,000 to $40,000. 

 

See an image of it here: Untitled (Tent Interior) 

 

The description of this work in Swann's online catalog indicates that Beauford's pastels are seldom seen at auction. 

For more information about the April 22, 2021 African American Art auction, click HERE.

Beauford in the News

In today's post, I'm presenting three announcements about Beauford that I recently found online.

SFMOMA announces major gift from the Pamela J. Joyner and Alfred J. Giuffrida Collection

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art announced a major gift of 31 paintings, sculptures and drawings by 20 American artists from the Pamela J. Joyner and Alfred J. Giuffrida Collection—celebrated for its intergenerational holdings of abstract art of the African diaspora. The addition of important historical works by Elizabeth Catlett, Beauford Delaney, Norman Lewis and Richard Mayhew, among many others, has inspired a reexamination of SFMOMA’s permanent collection and is having a transformative impact on its galleries.

Untitled (Portrait)
(1970) Oil on canvas
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator

Read the entire article HERE.

Beauford Delaney’s Metamorphosis into Freedom

ASHEVILLE, NC - Featuring more than 40 paintings and works on paper, Beauford Delaney’s Metamorphosis into Freedom examines Beauford's career within the context of his 38-year friendship with writer James Baldwin.

Yaddo
(1950) Pastel on paper
Knoxville Museum of Art, 2017 purchase with funds provided by
the Rachael Patterson Young Art Acquisition Reserve
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator
Image by Bruce Cole

Read about the exhibition and associated programming HERE.

Swann Auction Galleries African American Art Sale

NEW YORK, NY - Untitled (African Figure) is one of two Beauford Delaney works up for auction during Swann Auction Galleries' upcoming African American Art Sale.

Untitled (African Figure)
(1968) Oil on cotton canvas
Signed and dated in oil, lower left
Image courtesy of Swann Auction Galleries
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator

Read about this painting HERE.

Springtime

Spring has definitely sprung in Paris!

In today's blog, I'm posting a few abstract paintings by Beauford that I think perfectly represent the season.

Sollis Toucan 

(1963) Oil on canvas

© Estate of Beauford Delaney,
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator

Soullis Toucas

(Beauford's gift to Roy Freeman)

Oil on canvas

© Estate of Beauford Delaney,
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator

Untitled

(1956) Aquarelle on paper

© Estate of Beauford Delaney,
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator

Untitled
Watercolor on paper
Private collection
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator

Untitled
(1968) Gouache on paper
Private collection
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator
If you celebrate Easter, I wish you a happy one!