Strauss & Co has unveiled its July ART online sale, placing one of South Africa’s most respected art writers and curators at its centre. Alongside the auction house’s monthly selection of paintings, works on paper, sculpture and ceramics, this edition introduces a special Focus Sale curated by acclaimed critic Sean O’Toole, offering collectors an opportunity to engage with South African art through the perspective of someone who has spent decades documenting, analysing and championing the country’s creative landscape.
Titled Friends, Allies and the Odd Stranger, O’Toole’s selection reflects both his professional journey and the relationships he has built within the art world over the past 25 years. Rather than following a single movement or historical period, the collection draws together artists connected through shared conversations, collaborations and creative exchange.
A Sale Shaped by a Critic’s Perspective
Over the course of his career, Sean O’Toole has become one of South Africa’s most influential voices on contemporary art. Through his writing, curatorial work and ongoing engagement with artists, he has helped shape public conversations around the country’s evolving visual culture.
His curated selection brings together works by artists he has encountered throughout that journey, creating a collection rooted as much in personal connection as artistic significance. The selection spans multiple generations and mediums, highlighting the breadth of South African artistic practice while revealing unexpected links between artists.
Among the featured names are Robert Hodgins, Walter Battiss and Braam Kruger, whose practices intersect not only through their artwork but also through their contributions as critics, editorial illustrators and commentators. The selection also includes works by iconic figures such as J.H. Pierneef and William Kentridge, further underscoring the dialogue between artistic production and cultural criticism.
Adding another dimension to the sale is a carefully chosen collection of art books inspired by O’Toole’s long-standing relationship with publishing and criticism. Their inclusion coincides with the release of his latest publication, Photo book! Photo-book! Photobook!, published in June 2026 following a two-year research project at the A4 Arts Foundation. The project culminated in exhibitions at the foundation in Cape Town in 2022 and later in Kyoto, Japan, earlier this year.
Highlights Across the July Sale
Beyond O’Toole’s curated selection, Strauss & Co’s July online ART sale continues its familiar medium-specific format, offering works for both emerging and established collectors.
The painting session features contemporary artists including Walter Meyer, Anton Karstel and Lutanda Luzamba alongside mid-century modernists such as Adriaan Boshoff, Errol Boyley and Herman van Nazareth, presenting a broad range of styles, subjects and price points.
The works on paper section similarly bridges generations, pairing significant figures such as David Koloane with contemporary practitioners including Diane Victor.
Collectors interested in three-dimensional work will also find a concise selection of sculpture and ceramics, including an unusual piece by Brett Murray, whose major retrospective at the Norval Foundation recently concluded.
Together, the sale reflects the diversity of South African art, presenting established names alongside contemporary voices across a range of collecting categories.
Viewing Information
A selection of highlights from the July ART sale is currently on view at Strauss & Co’s Cape Town offices from 7 July, giving visitors the opportunity to view works in person ahead of the online auction.
The Timed Online sale closes from 2pm on Monday, 13 July, while Sean O’Toole’s curated Focus Sale, Friends, Allies and the Odd Stranger, concludes on Wednesday, 14 July.
Collectors and members of the public can also attend an Art Club walkabout of the exhibition at the Cape Town offices on 9 July.
Further information, including bidding registration and the complete catalogue, is available through Strauss & Co.
