What do a green silk gown and a moody 1997 portrait have in common? They both just made history, putting South African art where it belongs… right at the top.
Johannesburg, South Africa (28 May 2025) – It’s been a record-breaking season for South African art… and not just once, but twice.
Last night, a portrait painted in 1955 became the centre of attention (and applause) at a packed Strauss & Co auction in Johannesburg, where Vladimir Tretchikoff’s Lady from the Orient sold for a staggering R31.9 million. The sale set a new world record for the Russia-born South African painter ans also sparked pure celebration within the local art community.

With 89 rapid-fire bids, the drama unfolded between an anonymous telephone bidder and an in-room contender, the kind of back-and-forth you’d expect in a blockbuster film.
Auctioneer Alastair Meredith could feel the energy climbing as he called out, “We’ve breached the $1 million mark,” later adding, “The next bid is R25.2 million, which is something I have never said.” And just a few bids later, the hammer came down – history made.
Lady from the Orient, featuring Valerie Howe – a Cape Town grocer’s daughter swathed in a green silk gown – is a standout example of Tretchikoff’s signature Technicolor style. It’s bold, it’s glamorous, and it’s pure 1950s drama. The piece is part of a powerful legacy of works created after Tretchikoff moved to South Africa in 1946 and it clearly still captivates today.
But wait… there’s more.
In what can only be described as an incredible double win for South African talent, another artist from our shores recently also made history, this time on the international stage. Marlene Dumas, the iconic painter who studied Fine Arts in Cape Town, smashed the record for the highest auction sale for a living female artist this week in New York. Her 1997 painting Miss January sold for an astounding $13.6 million (that’s nearly R250 million!) toppling the previous record held by British artist Jenny Saville. What makes this moment even more special is the decades-long journey Dumas has walked. From showcasing her work in the ‘70s with little attention to becoming one of the most celebrated artists in the world, Marlene has built a career rooted in both technical mastery and emotional power.

Together, these two moments are reminders that South African art is not just alive and well… it’s thriving. It’s reaching global stages. It’s shifting the conversation. And that’s something truly worth celebrating.
What a moment for South African creativity. What a win for the world.