Sesse Elangwe's 2025 painting *True Friends?* sold for $22,000 at San Francisco dealer Jonathan Carver Moore's booth during the opening of FOG Art + Design on January 21. The work, created during a residency run by Moore, was purchased by a local collector. Elangwe, a self-taught Cameroonian artist known for emotionally charged portraits of Black subjects, was the fourth participant in Moore's residency program, which aims to connect artists with Bay Area collectors. Another portrait, *And My Better Half* (2025), was pre-sold for $9,000 to another Bay Area collector.
This sale highlights how emerging galleries are building a sustainable art ecosystem in the Bay Area, fostering deep relationships between artists and local collectors. Elangwe's growing market—with four recorded auction results, including a $26,000 sale at Sotheby's London—signals rising demand for his work. The article underscores the importance of residency programs and art fairs like FOG Art + Design in nurturing emerging talent and strengthening regional art scenes.