[av_heading heading=’Norman Lewis, Sam Gilliam and other superstars of African American art showcased at Swann Oct. 19′ tag=’h1′ style=” subheading_active=” show_icon=” icon=’ue800′ font=’entypo-fontello’ size=” av-desktop-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” subheading_size=” av-desktop-font-size=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” icon_size=” av-desktop-font-size-1=” av-medium-font-size-1=” av-small-font-size-1=” av-mini-font-size-1=” color=” custom_font=” subheading_color=” seperator_color=” icon_color=” margin=’,,35px,’ av-desktop-margin=” av-desktop-margin_sync=’true’ av-medium-margin=” av-medium-margin_sync=’true’ av-small-margin=’,,20px,’ av-mini-margin=” av-mini-margin_sync=’true’ headline_padding=” headline_padding_sync=’true’ av-desktop-headline_padding=” av-desktop-headline_padding_sync=’true’ av-medium-headline_padding=” av-medium-headline_padding_sync=’true’ av-small-headline_padding=” av-small-headline_padding_sync=’true’ av-mini-headline_padding=” av-mini-headline_padding_sync=’true’ padding=’10’ av-desktop-padding=” av-medium-padding=” av-small-padding=” av-mini-padding=” icon_padding=’10’ av-desktop-icon_padding=” av-medium-icon_padding=” av-small-icon_padding=” av-mini-icon_padding=” link=” link_target=” title_attr=” id=” custom_class=” template_class=” av_uid=’av-lnis3fhu’ sc_version=’1.0′ admin_preview_bg=”][/av_heading]

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NEW YORK – Swann Auction Galleries launched its African American art department in 2006 and has done much to build the category. Still helmed by founder Nigel Freeman, the department will conduct its next African American art sale on Thursday, October 19. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers. Every artist discussed in this story are those for whom Swann currently holds the world auction record for their work.

Drawing the highest estimate in the sale lineup, at $600,000-$900,000, is Moon Madness, a 1959 oil on linen canvas by Norman Lewis (1909-1979). It fully earns its high numbers. Moon Madness is one from a group of important nocturnal-themed Lewis works from the 1950s, and its first owner was a friend of the artist who sat for a portrait painted by him. In addition, the upper stretcher bar on the back of Moon Madness bears a label from the Willard Gallery of New York, which raised his profile and would give him a solo show in 1961.

American color field painter Sam Gilliam (1933-2022) gained fame for liberating the canvas from its stretcher in a range of innovative ways. One of the most striking and powerful iterations is his draped canvas, which is exactly what it sounds like – the painted canvas is displayed in the manner of a swag of fabric or a section of bunting. Gilliam’s 1979 Untitled draped painting stands out for its provenance as much as its alluring hues rendered in acrylic and metallic paint. It comes from the collection of artist and printmaker Lou Stovall, who died earlier this year and maintained a friendship with Gilliam that lasted five decades. Bearing the artist’s studio inventory tag at the lower left, it has an estimate of $150,000-$250,000.

Also on offer are seven works by Hughie Lee-Smith (1915-1999), led by the 1954 oil on Masonite Untitled (Two Young Men on a Beach), estimated at $120,000-$180,000; three by Faith Ringgold (b. 1930-), distinguished by her vibrant 2007 color screenprint on wove paper titled Somebody Stole My Broken Heart, estimated at $4,000-$6,000; and three by Carrie Mae Weems (b. 1953-), including a 2014 limited edition titled Blue Notes (Basquiat): Who’s Who or a Pair of Aces #1. Its estimate is $30,000-$40,000.

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Norman Lewis, ‘Moon Madness,’ estimated at $600,000-$900,000 at Swann Auction Galleries.
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Sam Gilliam, ‘Untitled,’ estimated at $150,000-$250,000 at Swann Auction Galleries.
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Hughie Lee-Smith, ‘Untitled (Two Young Men on a Beach),’ estimated at $120,000-$180,000 at Swann Auction Galleries.
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Faith Ringgold, ‘Somebody Stole My Broken Heart,’ estimated at $4,000-$6,000 at Swann Auction Galleries.
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Carrie Mae Weems, ‘Blue Notes (Basquiat): Who’s Who or a Pair of Aces #1,’ estimated at $30,000-$40,000 at Swann Auction Galleries.
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