Capsule Auctions features African American artists Jan. 28

James Denmark, ‘African Girl,’ 2004, collage. Capsule Auctions image

NEW YORK – Capsule Auctions presents C2: Art + Design, featuring 20th and 21st century, fresh-to-market, modern and contemporary art from New York estates and collections. This sale will begin Thursday, Jan. 28, at 11 a.m. EST. Bid absentee or live online through LiveAuctioneers.

Capsule will offer a curated selection of works on paper and editions including highlights from African American artists Faith Ringgold, James Denmark (above), Herbert Gentry (below) and Brazilian artist Romero Britto.

Herbert Gentry, ‘Observation IV,’ lithograph. Capsule Auctions image

Many of these artworks come from the estate of Bruce Teleky, who was a pioneer of African American art distribution. A graduate of Pratt Institute School of Art in Brooklyn, Teleky was a nonobjective artist with aspirations to be a part of the New York City art scene. He realized the challenges of a career as a fine artist and in the mid-1970s embarked on a career as a publisher and distributor of art prints and posters.

Faith Ringgold and Grace Matthews, ‘Angles Whispering in the Night,’ 2005, lithograph. Capsule Auctions image

He printed his first Poster Catalogue, Volume 1, in 1985. He was a visionary who recognized the marketplace for African American artists, appropriately calling the company American Visions.

Romero Britto, ‘Bride and Groom,’ serigraph. Capsule Auctions image

Teleky worked with the Romare Bearden estate and created posthumous limited edition prints, examples of which will be offered in Capsule’s upcoming February sales. He represented a great number of talented contemporary artists from all over the world. His love for imagery spoke to him and inspired him to make it accessible to all.