Aboudia, also known as Abdoulaye Diarrassouba, has taken the art world by storm in 2022, becoming the bestselling artist based on auction sales. This surprising development has left market experts perplexed and intrigued.
Inspired by street culture in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Aboudia’s art captures the essence of his hometown. His work draws influence from the graffiti of Abidjan and the traditional wood carvings of West Africa. Many have compared his style to that of the renowned artist Jean-Michel Basquiat.
Since the Ivorian civil war in 2011, Aboudia has incorporated themes of trauma and inhumanity in his paintings, often featuring skulls and soldiers.
According to the Hiscox Artist Top 100 survey, Aboudia’s artwork had the highest number of auction sales, with a total of 75 pieces. Damien Hirst followed closely behind with 73 works.
The value of Aboudia’s art has skyrocketed in recent years, with prices soaring from a few thousand pounds to six figures. In fact, one of his untitled paintings sold for £504,000 at Christie’s in London last year.
Robert Read, head of art and private clients at Hiscox, admits to being caught off guard by Aboudia’s success, stating, “I’m constantly surprised by things that happen, especially in the contemporary art market… That’s what makes it so exciting. Aboudia seems to be an artist that people want to speculate in.”
Aboudia’s talent was first recognized by the Jack Bell gallery in London, where he had his inaugural UK show in 2011. Notably, his collectors include influential figures like Charles Saatchi.
The unexpected market success of Aboudia may also reflect a growing interest in modern art from Africa, as prominent Western museums and galleries build collections from the region.
In other findings from the survey, David Hockney emerged as the bestselling artist based on global auction value in 2022, with sales generating $75m (£61m). His most valuable painting, “Winter Timber” of 2009, fetched $23m (£19.3m) at Christie’s in New York.
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