Ending 7th Jun, 2026 16:00
Olympia Timed: Modern and Contemporary African and Middle Eastern Art 2026
320
⊕ ‡ DAVID DALE (NIGERIAN B.1947)
EAR OF GRAIN
inscribed "EAR OF GRAIN" WATERCOLOUR/CHARCOAL NIGERIA, 2016 DR. DAVID H. DALE lower margin
watercolour and charcoal on paper
56.7 x 49.6cm; 22 3/8 x 19 1/2in
74.5 x 66.6cm; 29 3/8 x 26 1/4in (framed)
Property from a Private Collection, Lagos
David Dale was one of Nigeria's most versatile and celebrated artists. Born in Kano to a Scottish father and a Nigerian mother, he was raised in England before returning to Lagos for his secondary schooling at St Gregory's College, where he encountered Bruce Onobrakpeya, then the school's art teacher, whose encouragement proved decisive in shaping his career. He graduated from Ahmadu Bello University in 1971, majoring in Illustration and Graphic Design, and went on to work across more than twenty distinct media, including watercolour, charcoal, printmaking, stained glass, mosaic, metal sculpture and coloured beads. In 1977 he served as Graphic Consultant for the African Architectural Technology Exhibition at the landmark FESTAC '77 festival in Lagos. By 1997 he had exhibited in 58 shows across Africa, Europe, Asia and the Americas.
EAR OF GRAIN
inscribed "EAR OF GRAIN" WATERCOLOUR/CHARCOAL NIGERIA, 2016 DR. DAVID H. DALE lower margin
watercolour and charcoal on paper
56.7 x 49.6cm; 22 3/8 x 19 1/2in
74.5 x 66.6cm; 29 3/8 x 26 1/4in (framed)
Property from a Private Collection, Lagos
David Dale was one of Nigeria's most versatile and celebrated artists. Born in Kano to a Scottish father and a Nigerian mother, he was raised in England before returning to Lagos for his secondary schooling at St Gregory's College, where he encountered Bruce Onobrakpeya, then the school's art teacher, whose encouragement proved decisive in shaping his career. He graduated from Ahmadu Bello University in 1971, majoring in Illustration and Graphic Design, and went on to work across more than twenty distinct media, including watercolour, charcoal, printmaking, stained glass, mosaic, metal sculpture and coloured beads. In 1977 he served as Graphic Consultant for the African Architectural Technology Exhibition at the landmark FESTAC '77 festival in Lagos. By 1997 he had exhibited in 58 shows across Africa, Europe, Asia and the Americas.
Auction: Olympia Timed: Modern and Contemporary African and Middle Eastern Art 2026, ending 7th Jun, 2026
If you want to start collecting striking modern and contemporary art in a newly developing market, our sales are for you. Each spring and autumn, the Modern and Contemporary African and Middle Eastern Department hold tightly curated, live and online auctions. Expect to find Arab artists such as Rabab Nemr, Ahmed Farid, Seif Wanly and Fateh Moudarres. African artists featured have ranged from modern masters such as Ablade Glover, Sam Ntiro and Jacob Hendrik Pierneef, to contemporary artists George Lilanga, Jilali Gharbaoui, Famakan Magassa, Christano Mangovo, Oluwole Omofemi, Esther Mahlangu and Brett Seiler.
