The women are leading the way at Sotheby’s

2021 was a record-breaking year for South African and African art at Sotheby’s, who hold the world records for all of South Africa’s highest-earning living artists, Marlene Dumas (£3,177,250 GBP) and Lisa Brice ($3,166,000).

London based Lisa Brice secured her place as one of South Africa’s highest-selling artists (behind only Dumas and Stern) when her painting ‘No Bare Back, After Embah’ sold at Sotheby’s for a staggering $3,166,000 (more than R50 million).

With a pre-sale estimate of $200,000 to $300,000, bids for $500,000 and $600,000 were shouted out before the auctioneer could even open the bidding.

After six minutes of crossfire bids, the picture sold for an unprecedented 91 times her previous auction record.