Swann Galleries' African American Art Sale Achieves $2.6M with Seven Auction Records
Swann Galleries' African American Art auction on April 2 realized $2.6 million, setting seven new auction benchmarks. Richard Mayhew's 2006 oil painting Scarlet Journey, a vibrant landscape nearing abstraction, topped the sale at $249,000 after competitive bidding. Geoffrey Holder's circa 1960 work Carmen fetched $120,650, generating notable interest. Department director Nigel Freeman highlighted active participation from bidders across modern, post-war, and contemporary categories, with strong results throughout the event. The sale demonstrated robust market engagement for African American artists.
Key facts
- Swann Galleries held an African American Art auction on April 2
- The sale totaled $2.6 million
- Seven auction records were set
- Richard Mayhew's Scarlet Journey (2006) sold for $249,000
- Geoffrey Holder's Carmen (circa 1960) sold for $120,650
- Nigel Freeman is the department director at Swann Galleries
- Bidding was active across phone and online platforms
- The auction featured modern, post-war, and contemporary artists
Entities
Artists
- Richard Mayhew
- Geoffrey Holder
Institutions
- Swann Galleries