Arthouse Contemporary, Nigeria’s premier and only art auctioneer, held its 22nd auction of contemporary art on 27th May 2019 at the KIA showroom on Akin Adesola Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The auction, which featured 82 works by leading masters and contemporary artists, recorded total sales of N1.3, 775m ($288,264).
Ben Enwonwu’s Ogolo, watercolor on paper, dated 1992, was the top sale of the evening at Arthouse Auction, selling for N41,125,000 ($114,236).
Another Enwonwu, Negritude, also a watercolour dated 1994, sold for N9.4m ($26,111).
David H. Dale, metal foil on board, dated 1983, was the cheapest sale of the evening at the auction. It sold for N200,000 ($556).
Other notable sales included Rom Isichei’s Hope Enkindles Her Eyes, mixed media on canvas (2018), sold for N6.462m ($17,951); Ablade Glover’s Blue Profile, oil on canvas (2015), N5,287,500 ($14,688); and Kolade Oshinowo’s Back Home, a 2008 oil on canvas sold for N4,112,500 ($11,424).
The auction also included, charity lots in support of the Lagos Biennial, raising N2.20m for the second edition holding later this year.
Founded in 2007, Arthouse Contemporary is an international auction house that specialises in modern and contemporary art from West Africa. With auctions held twice a year in Lagos, Arthouse Contemporary aims to create awareness of the scope of contemporary art in the region, encourage international recognition towards its talented artists, and strengthen the economy of its art market.
