European-African Philanthropist From Ghana’s Royal Family is Investing and Promoting African Artists

European-African philanthropist Omenaa Mensah from Ghana’s royal family is investing and promoting African artists. Sotheby’s has been doing this for over a decade.

Omenaa Mensah captured the attention of the art world at the 8th edition of Accra Cultural Week in Ghana.

The philanthropist and art collector of Ghanaian heritage joined art experts from Tate Modern and Sotheby’s. According to Artprice, works by African artists reach up to Euro 9.3M at auctions and continue to increase in value.

The latest edition of Accra Cultural Week coincided with the opening of the Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw. However, it was the event in Ghana that attracted curators affiliated with Tate Modern, such as Osei Bonsu and Ekow Eshun, Nigerian curator Azu Nwagbogu, and Sotheby’s expert Hannah O’Leary. The British auction house has successfully sold African artists’ works at record prices for over a decade. Interestingly, many stars of African art come from Ghana, including El Anatsui, whose work sold for Euro 1.3 million, Ablade Glover, Ibrahim Mahama, Rita Mawuena Benissan, and Amoako Boafo. The auction record, Euro 9.9 million, belongs to Ethiopian-born artist Julie Mehretu.

Omenaa Mensah by the painting of Amoako Boafo. Photo. Jacek Poremba

Omenaa Mensah by the painting of Amoako Boafo. Photo. Jacek Poremba

The immensely popular Ghanaian artist Amoako Boafo has collaborated with French fashion house Dior, which featured his distinctive hand-painted portraits in a men’s clothing collection. Such collaborations between the art and fashion worlds are becoming increasingly popular. Renowned painter Ewa Juszkiewicz, whose works currently achieve record prices in the international art market, has collaborated with the luxury French brand Louis Vuitton and a handbag featuring her painting “Ginger Locks” was auctioned during Europe’s largest charity event, organised by Omenaa Mensah and her foundation, the TOP CHARITY Auction 2024, where it was purchased by a distinguished donor for Euro 115.125.

Paul Ninson, Omenaa Mensah, Natalia Bradbury. Photo. Jacek Poremba

Paul Ninson, Omenaa Mensah, Natalia Bradbury. Photo. Jacek Poremba

Omenaa Mensah was also present at Accra Cultural Week. The founder of the OmenaArt Foundation, who also initiated the construction of the Kids Haven Sport & Art Complex for street children in Ghana, met with artists and key figures from the art world.

I gained knowledge from the best through prestigious courses at the Royal College of Art and Sotheby’s Institute of Art, where I explored the latest trends in art and the intricacies of investing in high-growth potential works.

This experience helped me form a clear vision for developing the TOP CHARITY Auction, as well as shaping our future art collection, building international partnerships and selecting works that will support our business guests in diversifying their investment portfolios. I carry out all this with the utmost attention to quality and standards recognised by global art institutions. The Royal College of Art and Sotheby’s Institute of Art have been invited to collaborate in our next event edition.

Omenaa Mensah

Representatives of the Polish government participated in Accra Cultural Week, including Marta Cienkowska, Deputy Secretary of State in the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, along with Polish artists like sculptor Ida Karkoszka, who participated in Maltabiennale. Art 2024 and artist and activist Igor Dobrowolski, whose work achieved a record price of Euro 195,713 at the TOP CHARITY Auction 2024, as well as businesspeople and other artists.

Marta Cienkowska. Photo. Jacek Poremba

Marta Cienkowska. Photo. Jacek Poremba

The trip to Ghana showed me how detached we in the Western world are from essential values like interpersonal relationships, closeness to nature, music and dance—things that felt like living works of art in Ghana. This experience made me realise that I don’t need to look for art in traditional forms because nearly every meter of what I saw was art.

Igor Dobrowolski

It was an intense experience that allowed me to view social, economic and environmental issues from a practical rather than theoretical perspective. Engaging with African culture and local artists made me realise how art can raise social awareness and inspire change, becoming an active voice in the debate about the future.

Ida Karkoszka

TOP CHARITY Auction Goes Global

The TOP CHARITY Auction, which combines art, business and philanthropy, sets new records each year in auctioned works and high emotions, attracting increasing international attention. This year, it received the award for the most prestigious charity event in Europe, the Best Luxury Auction Event in Europe.
The auction’s founder and initiator, Omenaa Mensah, invites top artists to participate. This prestigious group will also include selected African artists, whom we will meet in June of next year, when their works will be presented to the public at the Wilanów Palace Orangery during the pre-auction exhibition from April 2025.
The founder of the OmenaArt Foundation believes that the works of outstanding African artists she encountered during Accra Cultural Week should find a place in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw.

At last, we have a museum with enough space to display large-scale installations. Ibrahim Mahama and El Anatsui are known for their monumental works that captivate audiences worldwide. We hope the Museum of Modern Art will showcase works by African artists, inviting Polish audiences into a dialogue with the incredibly dynamic and diverse world of African art.

Natalia Bradbury, Head of OmenaArt Foundation

Following the model of Laurence Graff, founder of Graff Diamonds and owner of the Delaire Graff Estate in Stellenbosch, which houses over 400 works of African art, including works by Lionel Smit and Deborah Bell, Omenaa Mensah, plans to create an impressive collection of contemporary African art in Poland, increasingly present in the global art market.

Accra Cultural Week

On the African art market, I was captivated by the extraordinary solidarity among artists—they do not compete with each other but form one big family. I often met top creators who proudly introduced me to their successful colleagues without fear that I, as a collector, might choose others’ works. This honesty and community deeply moved me.

Omenaa Mensah

Larry Amponsah, Omenaa Mensah, Rita Mawuena Benissan and other artists at Accra Cultural Week. Photo. OmenaArt Foundation

Larry Amponsah, Omenaa Mensah, Rita Mawuena Benissan and other artists at Accra Cultural Week. Photo. OmenaArt Foundation

The organiser of Accra Cultural Week was Marwan Zakhem, founder of Gallery 1957. A central part of the program was the exhibition “Keeping Time,” curated by Ekow Eshun, where 25 African artists explored themes of time, identity, and change. Abidjan-based artist Rita Mawuena Benissan reinterprets Ghana’s royal umbrella, and her works will soon be shown at the Sharjah Biennial in the United Arab Emirates. Nigerian artist Modupeola Fadugba creates blurred images that provoke reflection, while Ethiopian artist Elias Sime builds sculptures from electronic waste, transforming technology into art.

Rita Mawuena Benissan and Omenaa Mensah. Photo. Jacek Poremba

Rita Mawuena Benissan and Omenaa Mensah. Photo. Jacek Poremba

My work focuses on preserving Ghana’s history and the traditions of chieftaincy, using embroidery, film, photography, and traditional Ghanaian objects to create narratives that reinterpret and honour archival history. Through my art, I strive to transform how we perceive ourselves in the context of the past, present and future, building a shared commitment to protecting our cultural heritage.

Rita Mawuena Benissan

The visit to Ghana was also an opportunity for Omenaa Mensah to have inspiring meetings with artists such as Ibrahim Mahama, known for his monumental installations and Serge Attukwei Clottey, who creates sculptures from recycled plastic, using art as a tool for dialogue and social change.

Serge Attukwei Clottey speaking. Photo. Jacek Poremba

Serge Attukwei Clottey speaking. Photo. Jacek Poremba

Ghana is home to important artists who have gained renown in the contemporary art scene. Artists like Ibrahim Mahama, Serge Attukwei Clottey, and Amoako Boafo support their communities and inspire future generations of artists and thinkers.

Their intentional presence in Ghana is one reason their works evolve and reflect contemporary relevance. El Anatsui serves as a mentor for artists living and creating in Ghana and Africa, and his monumental sculptures, present in every major institution, are accessible for those who live in Africa to engage with. All of these local energies invigorate and drive our contemporary art community.

Azu Nwagbogu, Nigerian art curator and founder and director of the African Artists’ Foundation

Omenaa Mensah, Ibrahim Mahama, Boris Kudlicka. Photo. OmenaArt Foundation

Omenaa Mensah, Ibrahim Mahama, Boris Kudlicka. Photo. OmenaArt Foundation

https://omenaa-foundation_1.prowly.com/363863-european-african-philanthropist-omenaa-mensah-from-ghanas-royal-family-is-investing-and-promoting-african-artists-sothebys-has-been-doing-this-for-over-a-decade

Leave a Reply

*