What the Fook? A Landmark Strauss & Co Auction Celebrates Walter Battiss’s Inspired Life

Strauss & Co is proud to announce What the Fook? The Life and Work of Walter Battiss, a historic and unprecedented single-artist auction dedicated to the legacy of one of South Africa’s most imaginative and influential modernists. Running online from 12 to 30 June 2025, the auction is a tribute to Walter Battiss (1906–1982), spotlighting over four decades of his work in painting, printmaking, and drawing.

“What the Fook? celebrates the life and work of Walter Battiss, a protean and prolific figure in the story of twentieth-century South African art. His optimism, innovation, and commitment to creative freedom continue to resonate powerfully.”

says Leigh Leyde, Head of Sale, Strauss & Co

A Visionary Beyond His Time

Battiss was more than an artist — he was a teacher, archaeologist, critic, and founder of the New Group in 1938, a progressive collective that redefined the boundaries of South African art. But it was his creation of Fook Island in the 1970s — a whimsical imaginary world with its own culture, language, and art — that defined him as a true artistic pioneer.

Highlights from the Auction

The auction showcases important pieces from Battiss’s Pretoria period and beyond, many sourced from prestigious private collections including those of art historian Murray Schoonraad and composer Robert Schröder, both former students of the artist.

Key works include:

• The Spirit of Africa (c.1960): A powerful figural diptych, estimate R900 000 – R1.2 million.
• Ndebele Village / Abstract African Figures: A vibrant double-sided piece, estimate R150 000 – R200 000.
• The Early Men and Women (Cave): Painted in 1938, reflecting Battiss’s shift towards indigenous visual traditions, estimate R15 000 – R20 000.
• Wartrail, Barkly East: A striking watercolour from the Schoonraad Collection, estimate R30 000 – R50 000.
• Bird Masks: Colour screenprint, signed and numbered, estimate R8 000 – R12 000.
• Orgy 4: A provocative piece exploring morality and freedom, estimate R20 000 – R30 000.

Battiss’s devotion to documenting ancient Southern African rock art and his explorations into the abstract reveal a deep intellectual commitment to art and archaeology. His works are not only visually engaging but culturally and historically profound.

Exhibition Details

What the Fook? is on view from 9 to 24 June 2025 at Strauss & Co, with select dates available by appointment only. The full auction catalogue is available online at www.straussart.co.za, where collectors and fans can browse and bid on this unparalleled collection.

JUNE 2025 @ Strauss & Co Highlights:

• The Engen Collection – Live in Cape Town, 24 June at 2 PM
• Modern and Contemporary Art: Evening Sale – Live in Cape Town, 24 June at 7 PM
• South African Design: Past and Present – Online, 13–25 June
• What the Fook? The Life and Work of Walter Battiss – Online, 12–30 June
• The Mary Eleanor Hibbert Collection – Online, 14 June – 9 July

Click here to view all upcoming auctions

Don’t miss this extraordinary opportunity to engage with the imagination and legacy of a true South African original.