Two big names in the world of self-taught art., Martin Ramirez and Howard Finster, brought the biggest results in Slotin Folk Art Auctions Spring Self-Taught Art Masterpiece Sale on April 24. Overall, the sale was a barn burner with total revenues of $1.36 million, marking it as one of the auction houses most successful sales in its nearly three decades of operation, approaching the $1.48 million record from November 2020s Fall Self-Taught Masterpiece Sale. But what was remarkable beyond the biggest numbers was the number of records shattered for works by self-taught artists not usually listed on the leader board at Slotin or elsewhere. That included world-record sales results for the late Florida artist Frog Smith (the painting Dowling Camp Mill at Slater, FL that went for $17,500), Atlanta artist Lorenzo Scott (Baptism of Jesus painting, $13,125), the late New York artist Daniel Pressley (carved wood relief plaque Wait at the Water, $11,875) and a work by the late New York artist Rex Clawson that realized $8,750. In all, works by at least a dozen artists commanded world record prices. All noted prices include a 25 percent buyers premium. Steve Slotin, co-owner and operator of Slotin Folk Art Auction with wife, Amy, also marveled at the strong showing by African-American female artists from the South. Notable among them were the late Louisiana painter Clementine Hunter and the late Nellie Mae Rowe, the Georgia artist who drew, painted and created three-dimensional pieces. Hunter works achieved the auctions fifth- and seventh-highest bids; Rowe, the sixth- and 10th-highest bids. Slotin believes interest in the latter was boosted by Really Free: The Radical Art of Nellie Mae Rowe, the first major exhibition of the folk artists work in more than 20 years, opening at Atlantas High Museum of Art on Sept. 3. Speaking of growing bidder interest in Black folk artists from the South in general, Slotin said, Because of the Black Lives Matter movement, we see a lot of attention being given to the pioneers, not just in the arts but across the African-American community. This is all part of trying to correct longtime omissions. These artists and other leaders are finally getting recognized, and the history books are being rewritten. Adjusting to doing business amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Slotin Folk Art changed from its usual practice of auctioning roughly 1,000 lots in a two-day sale, with bidders overflowing the auction hall. As with last Novembers auction, Aprils sale was a one-day online only sale via Live Auctioneers. The April auctions 409 lots emphasized quality over quantity, and buyers sought out blue chip pieces and were willing to fight for them. The auctions highest bids were reserved for California artist Ramirezs circa 1930s drawing Caballero, $46,250; Georgia preacher-turned-artist Finsters Angel of the Lord (#10,971), 1989, an 86-inch-wide painted wooden cutout, $32,500; Georgia painter Mattie Lou OKelleys Family Wagon Packed & Ready to Leave, 1984, $24,375; and Alabama painter Myrtice Wests undated Who Is Worthy to Open the Book, also $24,375. Wests painting was boosted by having served as the cover image of Carol Crowns book, Wonders to Behold: The Visionary Art of Myrtice West. Most of the buyers purchased a single item and reached for it, rather than buying a larger grouping of lower-priced items, noted Amy Slotin. Another encouraging sign for the auctioneers was that nearly 30 percent of the bidders were new to Slotin Folk Art. New people joining us each time seems to be a trend, she said. It is exciting that so many new people are getting interested in self-taught art. Some of those fresh Slotin Folk Art followers hail from far-flung places. While buyers were mainly from the U.S., folk art fans registered for the auction from 22 other countries, including expected hotspots (France, United Kingdom and Canada) and surprising outposts (Australia, United Arab Emirates, Czech Republic, Iceland and Gambia). For furthur information, visit www.slotinfolkart.com.