Skepta to auction first painting at Sotheby’s in London

Skepta is auctioning his first foray into the world of contemporary art at Sotheby's in London this month. The grime MC has contributed a painting to a collection he has co-curated specifically for the auction, which takes place in mid-September. An exhibition of the works, which includes works by Slawn, Omar Ba, Theaster Gates and Ouattara Watts, will be be on display at Sotheby’s’ New Bond Street galleries from September 8-13.

Mama Goes To Market is the title of Skepta's painting (see below) and is a work he describes as having come from a fear that his young daughter will never be able to visit a market in Nigeria, the home country of his parents. "“I thought, ‘She will always have to buy everything online, she’s never going to experience this,’” the grime MC said in a statement, “so I tried to portray it in paint.” The painting has a pre-sale estimate of £40,000 to £60,000 ($46,000-$69,000).

Elaborating on the painting, Skepta added: "My mum used to carry me just as the woman in my painting carries her child. I always planned to include these four figures: a young boy, two women engrossed in conversation, and another lady rationing rice into a bowl besides baskets brimming with fruit and veg. I designed their clothes too - ‘Nigerian Couture’."

Skepta’s last solo album was 2019's Ignorance Is Bliss. A year later he shared Insomnia, a collaborative album made with Chip and Young Adz.