More than 60 works by African American artists of the 20th century to be sold by Treadway Toomey Auctions

Treadway Toomey Auctions announces its December 5th auction will feature a session of African American artwork curated by specialist Thom Pegg. This important grouping of fine art includes 20th century works in various mediums, including paintings, prints, sculpture, collage, assemblage, and photographs.

A highlight of the session is a major work titled Entombment by Bob Thompson, whose art has been the subject of numerous museum shows and is collected by private collectors and institutions alike. The oil on board, depicting colorful abstracted figures, is expected reach $60,000-$80,000.

Several sculptures by celebrated African American artist, Hayward Oubre will also be included in the session. These works, from the 1950s, won awards at the Atlanta University Annuals when exhibited by the artist. Executed in various mediums, from painted plaster to carved wood, the works range in estimate from $15,000-$18,000.  

The Graduate, by pro-football-player-turned-artist, Ernie Barnes, holds a pre-auction estimate of $20,000-$30,000. The painting, depicting an African American teenager walking proudly through the ghetto, diploma in hand, was once in the collection of Motown legend Gwen Gordy.  

Other artists included in the session are Beauford Delaney, Ossawa Tanner, Charles White, Betye Saar, Benny Andrews, Barkley Hendricks, John Biggers, Louis Delsarte, Norman Lewis, Joseph Delaney, James McMillan, Skunder Boghossian, Sam Gilliam and Mitchell Caton, among others.

The African American Fine Art session will be presented as part of the wider December 5th Treadway Toomey 20th Century Art & Design auction, comprised of nearly 900 prominent fine and decorative artworks including furniture, paintings, pottery, sculpture and lighting. Other highlights of the auction include Arts & Crafts works by Gustav Stickley, Teco, and Rookwood, fine art by Gertrude Abercrombie, LeRoy Neiman and Yaacov Agam, as well as modern design by Val Bertoia, Charles & Ray Eames and Hans Wegner.  

Preview exhibition for this auction is open to the public and will be held at the John Toomey Gallery, 818 North Boulevard, Oak Park, Ill., from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on November 28 and November 30-December 4, with extended hours on December 3 until 7 p.m.

For more information on all of the works to be included in the auction, please visit: treadwaygallery.com