As we move through the January 2026 auction season, the "Contemporary Discoveries" series at Sotheby's continues to reveal how collectors are balancing institutional heavyweights with the high-energy "new guard" of figurative painting.
This week’s highlights bring together a museum-grade masterpiece, a contemporary favorite with a dark humorous streak, and a poignant look at the legacy of a British photography icon.
The Institutional Anchor: Otobong Nkanga
Work: The Pursuit of Bling: The Transformation (2014)
Estimate: £30,000 – £50,000
Otobong Nkanga is currently defining the global institutional landscape. Her solo exhibition, "I dreamt of you in colours," is currently drawing crowds at the Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris (running through February 2026).
- The Work: This large-scale tapestry is a cornerstone of her Pursuit of Bling series, which explores how we extract and transform natural minerals into symbols of desire.
- Market Insight: This specific tapestry has an elite exhibition history, traveling from the Berlin Biennale to the MCA Chicago and Tate St Ives. In 2026, finding a work with this level of academic and museum "stamps" at this price point is increasingly rare.
The New Figurative Star: Albert Willem
Work: No worries (we party on!) (2022)
Estimate: £10,000 – £15,000
While the artist's dates in some catalogs (1912-1990) often lead to confusion with the Dutch painter Willem Jacobus Alberts, Albert Willem (b. 1979) is very much a contemporary force. The Belgian artist has become a favorite for his "naïve" style that masks a sharp, satirical wit.
- The Appeal: His works, often featuring chaotic party scenes or ironic human interactions, have consistently smashed estimates since his auction debut.
- Market Insight: Following the sale of his work Snowbound for over $225,000, Willem has transitioned from a niche favorite to a must-have for collectors of "New Figurative" art. No worries (we party on!) captures his signature blend of humor and social commentary.
The Legacy Collection: Martin Parr
Work: Four Photographs from the series "Common Sense" and "Think of England"
Estimate: £5,000 – £7,000
The art world is currently reflecting on the immense legacy of Martin Parr, who passed away in late 2025. Parr spent five decades capturing the quirks, clichés, and contradictions of British life with his signature saturated color and deadpan humor.
- The Series: These photographs from Common Sense and Think of England are quintessential Parr. They are anthropological studies of class and consumerism that defined the "New British Photography" movement.
- Market Insight: With Parr’s passing, there is a renewed urgency among collectors to secure early, signed editions from his most famous series. These c-prints, numbered
The Human Condition as an Asset
What connects these three very different lots is their focus on human behavior. Whether it's Nkanga’s critique of our greed for minerals, Willem’s ironic party scenes, or Parr’s satirical lens on Englishness, these artists are all documenting how we live now.
In 2026, the strongest "buy" signal is an artist who can bridge the gap between social commentary and visual allure. My advice? Look for the pieces that tell a story. In a digital world, the tangible narrative of a hand-woven tapestry or a signed c-print from a legendary photographer offers a physical connection to history that is increasingly valuable.
