Ben Enwonwu Foundation (BEF)

“Art is not static, like culture. Art changes its form with the times. It is setting the clock back to expect that the art form of Africa today must resemble that of yesterday otherwise the former will not reflect the African image. African art has always, even long before western influence, continued to evolve through change and adaptation to new circumstances. And in like manner, the African view of art has followed the trend of cultural change up to the modern times”.
. . . Ben Enwonwu, 1950

News Archives

TERRA KULTURE AUCTION HOUSE 2011 ART AUCTION

Ben Enwonwu’s Untitled ink on paper,1980, 37.5 x 32 in., made an auction record sale of N13.5m in Nigeria at the third edition of The Terra Kulture art auction held on May 4, 2011, in Lagos, Nigeria.

ARTHOUSE  MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY ART AUCTION 2011

Ben Enwonwu’s Africa Dances cold cast, resin bronze, 1972, 40.5 in., sold for N8m as the highest priced work at the ArtHouse Modern and Contemporary Art auction held in Lagos on May 9, 2011. Two other works by Enwonwu were also among the top four higest priced works. These were Untitled (oil on board, 22.5 x 18.375 in., 1981) which sold for N3.8m and Drummer (bronze, 23 in., approx 1970s) which sold for N3.3m.

Bonhams NewYork Auction 2010

Enwonwu’s painting titled Dancing Boy’ oil on board, 1981, 34 13/16 x 23 13/16in (88.5 x 60.5cm) sold for $91, 500 to top 137 lots at Bonhams’ NewYork auction which held on March 25, 2011. Four other works by the artist were among the top ten, while two made the top three.

These include Enwonwu's Africa Dances (Eve Noir) watercolour and pastel on board, 1972, 40x30 in. (101.6x76.2cm). , sold for $73,200 (£48,325) including premium.

Bonhams NewYork Auction 2009

The Bonhams' sale in London on April 8, 2009 established a new auction record for Ben Enwonwu and Nigeria at £66,000($94,596), including premium for his acrylic and watercolour on card painting, Negritude 1957.