Last night, a portrait painted in 1955 became the centre of attention (and applause) at a packed Strauss & Co auction in Johannesburg, where Vladimir Tretchikoff\u2019s Lady from the Orient<\/em> sold for a staggering R31.9 million. The sale set a new world record for the Russia-born South African painter ans also sparked pure celebration within the local art community.<\/p>\n With 89 rapid-fire bids, the drama unfolded between an anonymous telephone bidder and an in-room contender, the kind of back-and-forth you\u2019d expect in a blockbuster film.<\/p>\n Auctioneer Alastair Meredith could feel the energy climbing as he called out, \u201cWe\u2019ve breached the $1 million mark,\u201d later adding, \u201cThe next bid is R25.2 million, which is something I have never said.\u201d And just a few bids later, the hammer came down \u2013 history made.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Lady from the Orient<\/em>, featuring Valerie Howe \u2013 a Cape Town grocer\u2019s daughter swathed in a green silk gown \u2013 is a standout example of Tretchikoff\u2019s signature Technicolor style. It\u2019s bold, it\u2019s glamorous, and it\u2019s pure 1950s drama. The piece is part of a powerful legacy of works created after Tretchikoff moved to South Africa in 1946 and it clearly still captivates today.<\/p>\n But wait\u2026 there\u2019s more.<\/p>\n In what can only be described as an incredible double win for South African talent, another artist from our shores recently also made history, this time on the international stage. Marlene Dumas<\/a>, the iconic painter who studied Fine Arts in Cape Town, smashed the record for the highest auction sale for a living female artist this week in New York. Her 1997 painting Miss January<\/em> sold for an astounding $13.6 million<\/a> (that\u2019s nearly R250 million!) toppling the previous record held by British artist Jenny Saville. What makes this moment even more special is the decades-long journey Dumas has walked. From showcasing her work in the \u201870s with little attention to becoming one of the most celebrated artists in the world, Marlene has built a career rooted in both technical mastery and emotional power.<\/p>\n Together, these two moments are reminders that South African art is not just alive and well\u2026 it\u2019s thriving. It\u2019s reaching global stages. It\u2019s shifting the conversation. And that\u2019s something truly worth celebrating.<\/p>\n What a moment for South African creativity. What a win for the world.<\/p>\n![\"Tretchikoff](\"https:\/\/www.goodthingsguy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/vladimir-tretchikoff-lady-of-the-orient.jpg\")
\n
![\"Tretchikoff](\"https:\/\/www.goodthingsguy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/marlene-dumas-miss-january.jpg\")
\nSources: Strauss & Co | Marlene Dumas\u00a0<\/em><\/h6>\n
Don\u2019t ever miss the Good Things. Download the Good Things Guy App now on\u00a0Apple<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0Google<\/a>.\u00a0<\/em><\/h6>\n
Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on\u00a0Facebook<\/a>\u00a0&\u00a0Twitter<\/a>\u00a0to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by\u00a0clicking here\u00a0<\/a>or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque \u2013 South Africa\u2019s very own\u00a0Good Things Guy<\/a>. He\u2019s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there\u2019s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you\u2019ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:<\/em><\/h6>\n