Two South African Artists Making History: Tretchikoff & Dumas Break Records

South Africa’s art scene has long been a deep well of cultural expression, political reflection, and visual brilliance. In 2025, the spotlight beams brightly on two artists whose works have made global headlines and auction house history: Vladimir Tretchikoff and Marlene Dumas.

One, a 20th-century icon whose kitsch-turned-collectible paintings are commanding staggering prices. The other, a contemporary powerhouse whose emotionally charged portraits now sit among the most valuable by any living artist. Together, their achievements speak volumes about South Africa’s global impact on the art market.

Vladimir Tretchikoff: “Lady from the Orient” Smashes Record

In late May 2025, Strauss & Co in Johannesburg set a new world record for Tretchikoff with the sale of his 1955 portrait Lady from the Orient, fetching an astonishing R31,892,000 (~US $1.78 million / £1.31 million). This dramatic 89bid battle eclipsed the previous record (for Chinese Girl) in a landmark moment for the so-called “King of Kitsch”

This sale highlights how works once dismissed as kitsch are now celebrated as cultural icons—with vibrant colours, exotic allure, and mass appeal driving renewed interest.

Marlene Dumas: “Miss January” Becomes Record-Breaking Contemporary Artwork

While Tretchikoff may have found posthumous vindication, Marlene Dumas is enjoying international acclaim in real-time. The Cape Town-born, Amsterdam-based artist has long been a critical darling, with exhibitions in the world’s top galleries and museums. But 2025 saw her take her place at the very peak of the art market.

Just weeks earlier in May 2025, Christie’s New York witnessed a historic moment when Marlene Dumas’s 1997 painting Miss January sold for US $13.6 million (hammer price US $11.5 million, US $13.6 million with fees)
This sale cemented Dumas's position as the most expensive living female artist ever sold at auction—and also the most expensive living South African artist to date.

This emotionally charged, towering nude disrupted the art market—claiming top billing in what many described as a subdued spring auction season

Dumas' often unsettling portraits explore themes of identity, sexuality, race, and politics with a fluid, often haunting brush. Her signature style—blending figurative looseness with psychological depth—resonates deeply in today’s world of political complexity and human introspection.

Her work is not decorative. It is arresting. And collectors are paying attention.

What This Means for South African Art

These record-setting sales are more than just headlines; they’re part of a broader narrative of South African art gaining long-overdue recognition on the world stage.