The first sale under the new banner Art Auction East Africa | Strauss & Co will take place in Nairobi on 5 November 2025 and will comprise two parts: a live-virtual auction of important modern and contemporary art from East Africa and beyond, and a concurrent online-only sale dedicated to works on paper. The deadline for consignments is 15 August 2025, with works receivable in Nairobi, Johannesburg or Cape Town.

 This new collaboration builds on the foundational work of Nairobi art dealer Danda Jaroljmek, who launched Art Auction East Africa in 2013 to help rekindle interest in East African artists working during the era of decolonisation and independence, as well as to develop a sustainable secondary market for their work. The auction has become a central fixture in the East African art calendar.

 Past auctions have featured important artists like Ancent Soi and Sane Wadu from Kenya, Eli Kyeyune and Geoffrey Mukasa from Uganda, Salah Elmur from Sudan, and George Lilanga and Edward Saidi Tingatinga from Tanzania. Although focussed on East Africa, past auctions have included artists from other regions – notably Congo, Nigeria and South Africa. Art Auction East Africa | Strauss & Co will honour this tradition.

 Susie Goodman, Managing Executive of Strauss & Co, comments: "This bold initiative is a strategic partnership between two leading regional actors with deep networks and a shared commitment to the African art market. It recognises the importance of collaboration in fostering a thriving pan-African art ecosystem. We are especially excited to deepen our engagement with artists, collectors and institutions in East Africa. Strauss & Co has global client base, and we are excited at the prospect of taking our clients on this exciting journey."

 Danda Jaroljmek, Founder of Art Auction East Africa, adds: "Continuity is vital to securing artistic legacies. When I founded Art Auction East Africa, many important East African artists working in the post-independence period were being overlooked. Our annual auction was the first of its kind in East Africa and has helped reposition over 150 artists in the market. Partnering with Strauss & Co ensures this momentum continues and that the achievements of East Africa's artists gain even broader visibility."

 Alastair Meredith, Head of Art at Strauss & Co, says: "This partnership offers both commercial and curatorial opportunity. Currently, no cities in Sub-Saharan Africa outside South Africa host regular auction sales. Our countries share a common business language, sophisticated ICT sectors and – important for me – cultural exchange. Major South African artists such as Walter Battiss, Frans Oerder, JH Pierneef and Irma Stern worked on the East African coast, while contemporary Kenyan artists like Michael Armitage and Peterson Kamwathi are well known in South Africa. This partnership affirms that shared legacy."

 The 2025 edition of Art Auction East Africa | Strauss & Co will continue to prioritise rare, secondary-market works from the 1960s to 1990s, complemented by a curated selection of contemporary pieces. A preview exhibition will run from 27 October to 5 November 2025.

 Collectors interested in consigning works from East Africa and beyond are encouraged to contact Strauss & Co or Art Auction East Africa directly. Works may be deposited in Nairobi, Johannesburg or Cape Town, with the final deadline for consignments on 15 August 2025.

 Dr Alastair Meredith, Strauss & Co – art@straussart.co.za