In October 2021, artist Serge Attukwei Clottey nervously watched as his portrait, "Fashion Icons," went up for auction at Phillips, expected to sell for $30,000-$40,000 but instead fetched $340,200. This unexpected success not only elevated Clottey's profile but also sparked a wave of interest in art by young Black artists, particularly from Africa. Following Clottey's sale, many of his peers experienced similar auction successes, leading to a surge in art valuations and demand for contemporary Black portraiture across the international art market.
"For years, Clottey had been known mostly for his tapestries, made from tilelike pieces of discarded plastic bottles. But portraiture was a fresh experiment."
"I was really, really scared," Clottey says. "A low auction price could devalue all my other work. A high price could set off a speculative furor."
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