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contemporary art collection

Slotin adds contemporary art collection to May 16 sale

Tom Hoepf
Tom Hoepf
contemporary art collection
Peter Dean, ‘Lovers in the Rain,’1982, signed oil on canvas, 50in x 44in. Estimate: $1,000-$3,000. Slotin Auction image

BUFORD, Ga. – For 26 years, Slotin Auction has been the premier auction house bringing self-taught art, outsider art and folk art to the market. Over the years, collectors of self-taught art have started to incorporate contemporary art and objects into their collections and contemporary art collectors have begun to incorporate selections of self-taught art into their line up as well. As the two fields begin to merge, Slotin has diversified its self-taught art offerings to bring a specialty sale to the auction block on Saturday, May 16, that is sure interest buyers of both genres. Absentee and Internet live bidding is available through LiveAuctioneers.

This auction will feature 453 Lots, a major lifetime collection of contemporary art from a prominent West Palm Beach estate with an emphasis on Chicago artists. Also included are some lively works of contemporary self-taught and folk art for which Slotin has become known. All items are sold unreserved. The auction will begin at 10 a.m. Eastern time.

This sale includes more than 100 works of important contemporary artworks collected from major Chicago galleries in the ’70s and ’80s. A mesmerizing work by Peter Dean, lot 1, titled Lovers in the Rain (above), 1982, oil on canvas, 50 by 44 inches, is sure to kick things off nicely (est. $1,000-$3,000).

Of special note are three large works by Thomas Kovachevich, including the cover of the auction catalog, lot 19: Blue Thighs (below), 1983, acrylic, paper and fabric on canvas, 60 by 60 inches (est.  $800-$1,200.

contemporary art collection
Thomas Kovachevich, ‘Blue Thighs,’ 1983, acrylic, paper and fabric on canvas, 60in x 60in. Estimate: $800-$1,200. Slotin Auction image

A rare pair of Ralph Humphrey painted wooden constructions, lots 2 and 3 (est. $3,000-$5,000 each are sure to pique the interest of any collector of this genre. A wood and steel construction on a cement base, Financial Freedom Through Real Estate, 1986, 80 inches high by 44 inches wide (est. $1,000-$3,000) would be the focal point of any major contemporary art collection. Also noteworthy is an adorable Leo Sewell, Seated Dog, 1970s, constructed of found objects (est. $1,000-$2,000).

contemporary art collection
Leo Sewell, ‘Seated Dog,’ 1970s, mixed media sculpture made from found objects, 31in x 30in x 12in. Estimate: $1,000-$2,000. Slotin Auction image

Two beautiful serigraphs (lots 45 and 46, (est. $500-$800 each) are also included by social justice warrior and pop art icon Sister Corita Kent, featured as Newsweek’s Dec. 1967 cover with the title, The Nun: Going Modern. Also look for a pair of large decorated totems by John Torreano (Young Hoffman Gallery, Lots 4 and 5 (est. 1,000-$2,000 and $800-$1,200); Surrealistic works by William Benway, (Dart Gallery, Chicago,) Lots 6 and 7 (est. $800-$1,200 each); and a nude male figure by David Sharpe (Zak Gallery, Chicago, Lot 11 (est. $800-$1,200).

This May’s edition will also feature a whimsical collection of international art and contemporary American art, anonymously donated to benefit Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art. Look for a large grouping by Max Raffler, Lots 115-123, (est. $300-$500 each), a fun and colorful grouping by Mossaed Mahvassah (lots 124-127), including Game Time (below), oil on canvas, 38 by 38 inches, a pair of works by Maria Kloss, including Nude with Cat (lots 128-129, est. $300-$500 each) and visual depictions of village life by Ana Oncu, Chet Florika and Jan Venarsky.

contemporary art collection
Mossaed Mahvassah, ‘Game Time,’ signed oil on canvas, 38in x 38in. Provenance: proceeds to benefit Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art. Estimate: $300-$500. Slotin Auction image

The mainstay of Slotin Auctions, self-taught and outsider art will also be nicely represented by works from Howard Finster, Purvis Young (including several lots of his coveted decorated books), Mose Tolliver, Jimmy Lee Sudduth, Albert Louden, Rex Clawson, Ted Gordon, Alex Maldonado, Eddie Arning, Inez Nathaniel Walker, Woodie Long, Charlie Lucas, Bernice Sims, Larry Bissonette, Louis Vuittonet, Prophet Royal Robertson, Lonnie Holley, Sybil Gibson, Jack Savitsky, Victor Joseph Gatto, Ronald Cooper, S.L. Jones, William Thomas Thompson,  Eric Legge, Haitian Art, African art and artifacts and two dozen stunning examples from the private estate of Kevin Reid, former owner of the Australian Aboriginal Art Gallery, Savannah, Georgia.

contemporary art collection
Howard Finster, ‘Howard in 1946,’1990, #14,345, signed, dated, titled and numbered. Paint and marker on cutout board. 10in x 16in. Estimate: $800-$1,200. Slotin Auction image

A wonderful selection of new discoveries will make an appearance in this specialty sale, including an entire body of works by John Van Haver (1917-2012). His giant modern surrealist works include hand-carved frames (Lots 100-114). Works by Vincent Bernardy (lots 330-333), J. Theodore Ted Diamond (lots 357-359) and three fantastic vibrant examples by Flash Artist Issac Wright (Lots 97-99) are included.

For details contact Slotin Auction at 770-532-1115, or 404-403-4244 or auction@slotinfolkart.com.

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