In a proud moment for South Africa, Cape Town-born artist Marlene Dumas just shattered records by becoming the most expensive living female artist.
Her 1997 painting, Miss January, sold for a staggering $13.6 million (about R246 million) at Christie’s auction house this week — a huge leap in her career and a proud win for South African art on the global stage.
The Artwork and the Auction Drama
Miss January wasn’t just any painting; it’s a massive oil-on-canvas piece, nearly 9 feet tall (282 cm by 102 cm), packed with personal meaning for Dumas.
Originally inspired by Miss World, it’s a reflection that connects back to a childhood drawing she did at age 10, as well as some of her earlier works like the 1988 Misinterpreted and the 1992 exhibition Miss Interpreted in Amsterdam.
At the auction, bidding started at $9 million and quickly heated up, with the hammer falling at $11.5 million before fees, sparking applause in the room.
After fees, the final price hit $13.6 million.
The winning bidder? An anonymous phone caller, keeping their identity under wraps.
Breaking Records and Setting New Standards
This sale outpaced the previous record held by Jenny Saville, a British artist whose Propped sold for £9.5 million (roughly $12.4 million) in 2018.
Before Miss January, Dumas’s highest auction price was $6.33 million for The Visitor (1995), sold back in 2008.
Though Dumas has been a consistent presence in the art market, only a few of her works have crossed the $1 million mark recently.
Between 2022 and 2024, only 15 of her pieces were auctioned, with five exceeding $1 million and just two surpassing their estimated values.
The Rubell Family Collection and Rarity Factor
Adding to the buzz, this painting was a rare sale from the famous Rubell Family Collection — known for its massive and highly selective art holdings.
The Rubells have collected more than 5,000 pieces over fifty years but have sold fewer than 20.
Miss January was on display at their private Miami museum during Art Basel in December before coming up for auction.
What This Means for Marlene Dumas and Contemporary Art
This historic sale cements Marlene Dumas’s place as a global heavyweight in the contemporary art scene.
It highlights not just her artistic vision but also the growing recognition of female artists breaking into a traditionally male-dominated market.
Are you someone who dreams of owning such a masterpiece, or maybe just curious about the high-stakes world of art collecting? Either way, this moment marks a milestone that art lovers and collectors worldwide won’t forget anytime soon.
What’s next for Marlene Dumas? Fans and collectors are watching closely — her next moves could redefine modern art yet again.