Aspire Art's Winter Auctions

Aspire Art returns with a dynamic winter season, once again turning its Rosebank showroom into a must-visit destination for culture lovers and collectors alike. This month's showcase offers a breathtaking overview of modern and contemporary South African art, with a particularly poignant private collection that explores the notion of home. Whether you're a seasoned buyer aiming to acquire a masterpiece, or simply seeking inspiration from the monumental canvases and lyrical brushwork, head to Aspire Art at Keyes Art Mile. The live auction for Holding Time: The Dr Bruce Hoffman Private Collection gets under way on Tue, Jun 17 at 19:00, while the Modern and Contemporary Art Day and Evening sales take place on Wed, Jun 18 at 14:00 and 19:00, respectively.

Holding Time: The Dr Bruce Hoffman Private Collection

*The Drinker*, Peter Clarke, 1973, lot 13. Photo: Aspire Art.

A single-owner sale, Holding Time: Collecting Home from Afar showcases the private collection of Dr Bruce Hoffman, assembled over the several years he lived abroad. It’s an instinctive collection that acted as a touchstone for remembering South Africa. You'll find works by key artists like Peter Clarke, Penny Siopis, Gladys Mgudlandlu, Ephraim Ngatane and Louis Maqhubela, but the auction is more than a roll call of notable names, instead it weaves together an overview of the country's changing aesthetic, social and political realities.

Modern and Contemporary Art: Day and Evening Sales

*Girl Holding a Cat*, Kate Gottgens, 2013, lot 50. Photo: Aspire Art.

Following the Hoffman collection, the Modern and Contemporary Art Day and Evening sales continue the phenomenal line-up of standout pieces. Prepare to be stopped in your tracks by Walter Battiss’ monumental Spirit of Africa, alongside a luminous work by Maggie Laubser and the remarkable 1994 painting by George Pemba, The Angry Gamtoos River, famously featured in the artist’s retrospective. The auctions are further anchored by cutting-edge contemporary voices such as Senzeni Marasela, Ayanda Mabulu, Nelson Makamo and Kate Gottgens.

The programme at a glance

Wed, Jun 17 at 19:00: Holding Time: Collecting Home From Afar
Thu, Jun 18 at 14:00: Modern and Contemporary Art – Day Sale
Thu, Jun 18 at 19:00: Modern and Contemporary Art – Evening Sale
Fri, Jun 19 at 11:00: Winter '26 Collection opens

Note: Aspire Art is open for viewing Mon–Fri 08:30–16:30. Keep an eye on their Instagram and our exhibitions blog for programming in the week leading up to the sales.

Date: Wed, Jun 17 to Thu, Jun 18, 2026
Venue: Aspire Art, The Trumpet on Keyes, 21 Keyes Avenue, Rosebank, Johannesburg
Price: Free entrance for viewing exhibitions (bidder registration required for auctions)