AFRICAN + Modern & Contemporary Art by PIASA – Paris

On the occasion of its fall sale dedicated to African scenes and diasporas, PIASA is pleased to present an exceptional group of works covering nearly 120 years of African creation.

From Unpublished Postcards by Abdoulaye Samb and his followers (ca. 1900 to 1929) to the explosive expression of the prodigy Aboudia, an undisputed star of the international markets, the sale offers 143 lots that form a dynamic group of drawings, paintings, sculptures, as well as a work by the artist Emo de Medeiros incorporating an NFC chip, echoing the technological developments that mark our time: African artists evolve with the times!

The series of unpublished postcards by Abdoulaye Samb and his followers, dated from the beginning of the 20th century (ca. 1900 to 1929), is a great gateway into the rich world of the African art scene, and is an event in itself, as they are to date, the earliest examples of modern works from sub Saharan Africa ever presented on the market.

This is a good introduction to show PIASA’s continued interest in the masters of this continent. The «Masters» section will also feature a unique private collection, assembled over a period of more than 30 years, by an Italian amateur expatriated in Nigeria. This collection, never before seen on the market, will be an opportunity to look at the work of masters from Ghana, Nigeria and Uganda, led by Ghanaian artist El Anatsui, who recently won a Golden Lion at the Venice Biennale for his entire career.

Also echoing the Venice Biennale, the sale will feature a set of prints by young photographer Edson Chagas, from his Angolan pavilion at the 2013 Biennale. This pavilion was awarded the Golden Lion for best national pavilion at the time, the first such distinction for an African country. The 16 signed prints by Edson Chagas are presented as part of a section dedicated to the Portuguese-speaking scenes in Africa.

In West Africa, Benin is honored with a dedicated focus, highlighting this country that recently came to the forefront, through the impressive exhibition presented in Cotonou in spring-summer 2022, of a set of historic artifacts returned by France.

This revelation of an ambitious national museum project covering both heritage and contemporary art has also been corroborated with the creation of the Cotonou Gallery Weekend, whose first edition was held in September 2022.

Finally, the great favorites of the African scenes are present: NDary Lo, Chéri Samba, Frédéric Bruly Bouabré, Seydou Keïta or Barthélémy Toguo.

AUCTION
ON WEDNESDAY 9 NOVEMBER
6:00 PM, IN PARIS

PIASA
118 rue du Faubourg Saint Honoré 75008 Paris
+33 1 53 34 10 10
www.piasa.fr