Meet the Ethiopian artist who broke the highest art auction sale record twice
Addis Ababa-born, US-based artist Julie Mehretu has broken her own record for the highest sale price of any artwork by an African-born artist at an auction.
Julie Mehretu sold her abstract 2008 painting “Walkers With the Dawn and Morning” for $10.7 million on November 15 at Sotheby's Now Evening Auction in New York surpassing her own record set last month.
The artwork achieved a record-breaking amount of $9.5 million, excluding fees, marking another triumph for Mehretu. This accomplishment comes on the heels of her recent success at the Sotheby's Hong Kong contemporary evening sale on October 5.
During that event, her Untitled diptych from 2001 fetched $9.32 million (including fees), surpassing the prior record set by South African artist Marlene Dumas in 2008.
Mehretu produced "Walkers With the Dawn and Morning" as a contribution to an exhibition addressing the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. Featured in the 2008 showcase at the New Orleans Museum of Art, the painting features ink and acrylic on canvas and derives its name from a Langston Hughes poem dating back to the 1920s, according to local media Fana Broadcasting Corporate.
52-year-old Julie Mehretu was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and relocated to the United States with her family in 1977. Since then, she has risen to prominence as a key figure in the rapidly expanding contemporary African art scene.
She first gained significant recognition with her inaugural six-figure sale at the Lehman Brothers' bankruptcy auction in 2010.
The sale of this artwork reflects the increasing enthusiasm for contemporary African art.
"We are transitioning beyond the initial phase to a more discerning stage," noted Hannah O'Leary, head of Sotheby's modern and contemporary African art department, in a recent interview with the Art Newspaper.
Mehretu has also been selected to design BMW's next Art Car participating in the 24 Hours Le Mans race next year.
