Mohamed Melehi transformed Morocco’s art scene with his bold explorations of color and the unique brand of Modernism he crafted as a member of the Casablanca School art movement of the 1960s. Often compared to American color-field painters like Ellsworth Kelly, Frank Stella, and Kenneth Noland, Melehi was known to blend Islamic influences and symbolism, including wavy calligraphic imagery, to singular effect.

Right now, collectors can bid on Untitled (2016), a classic work by Melehi included in our current Africa Present sale on Artnet Auctions.

Untitled (2016) is from a series dedicated to climate concerns — the blue-green color scheme and falling leaves allude to the artist’s spirituality and relationship with nature. The inclusion of the wave motif and the bold palette of Untitled (2016) are defining elements in Melehi’s oeuvre. His unique formula of combining Western color field painting with Arab influences of North Africa earned him a loyal audience on all corners of the globe. Sadly, Melehi passed away in October of 2020 at 84 years old.

Average sale price versus mean estimate for Melehi’s work, showing a skyrocketing demand.

The market for Melehi’s work is experiencing a recent boom. Between 2019 and 2020, his global auction sales increased by nearly $1.9 million, signifying high demand and healthy growth in Melehi’s market. However, paintings by Melehi are still a rare find on the secondary market, and only two have been sold at auction so far this year. Estimated at $70,000–90,000, Untitled (2016) is a stellar find by an artist whose work is rarely offered at auction and increasingly valuable. 

Demand for Melehi’s work has skyrocketed in tandem with the emergence of several retrospectives devoted to his career in the past few years. His recent exhibition at the Alserkal Foundation in Dubai also showed at The Mosaic Rooms in London and the Museum of African Contemporary Art Al Maaden in Marrakech. Don’t miss the opportunity to add one of Melehi’s bold and mesmerizing compositions to your collection—bidding on Untitled (2016) is live through April 29 in Africa Present on Artnet Auctions.

Please don’t hesitate to contact the specialist for this work, Henri Neuendorf, with any questions or concerns.

+1 (212) 497-9700 ext. 203

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