Abdoulaye Diarrassouba also recognized as Aboudia, clinched the title of the top-selling artist in 2022. Aboudia successfully sold a total of 75 artworks, surpassing Damien Hirst (73 lots), Edgar Plans (65 lots), Yoshitomo Nara (62 lots), and Jordy Kerwick (61 lots), as revealed in the Hiscox Artist Top 100 list released on Monday.
Aboudia’s art draws inspiration from the vibrant street culture of Abidjan and the traditional wood carvings of West Africa. Critics frequently liken his work to that of the celebrated Jean-Michel Basquiat, renowned for his graffiti-inspired imagery. Jean-Michel Basquiat gained acclaim for his graffiti-inspired artwork.
Mixed media on canvas
153 × 122 cm. Image courtesy of artsy.
Nevertheless, what sets Aboudia’s art apart is its poignant reflection on the Ivorian civil war in 2011. His creations often depict the trauma of human cruelty through haunting images of skulls and soldiers. A recent Hiscox survey, delving into contemporary art trends, has placed Aboudia at the pinnacle of the Hiscox Artist Top 100 list based on the number of artworks auctioned. Remarkably, Aboudia’s artwork prices have soared over the past decade, transitioning from a few thousand pounds to six figures today. In 2022, one of his untitled paintings commanded a staggering £504,000 at Christie’s in London.
Robert Read, head of art and private clients at Hiscox, conveyed his astonishment at Aboudia’s auction success, underscoring the inherently unpredictable nature of the contemporary art market. Aboudia’s rising prominence suggests that he has become an artist of significant interest to both art enthusiasts and investors.
Aboudia’s journey in the art world received a significant boost when the Jack Bell Gallery in London hosted his inaugural UK exhibition in 2011. Furthermore, the esteemed art collector Charles Saatchi is among those who have acknowledged Aboudia’s talent, adding his work to their collections. This ascent in Aboudia’s market success may also mirror the escalating global fascination with modern African art, with Western museums and galleries increasingly seeking out pieces from the continent.
These findings, conducted by ArtTactic, a research and analysis firm on behalf of Hiscox, are based on unique artworks crafted after 2000, which were auctioned at major auction houses between 2018 and 2022. The data also unveiled a notable upswing in the value of contemporary art sold over the past two years, peaking at nearly $1.2 billion in 2021.
Acrylic, oil pastel & mixed media on canvas
150 × 300cm.Image courtesy of artsy.
However, the study also brought to light a growing speculative trend in the market, with an increase in the resale of art within short periods, which has the potential to impact the stability of the market. In conclusion, Aboudia’s unexpected ascent as the bestselling artist of 2022 underscores the evolving dynamics of the contemporary art world, where artists from diverse backgrounds are gaining recognition and reshaping the art market landscape.
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