A-ARTs: How Third Affordable Auction Recorded 62 Percent

With a total of N26,668,000 million naira made during the third edition of Arthouse's Affordable Art Auction, the sales recorded 62% of the lots sold.

Held inside Kia Motors Showroom, Victoria Island, Lagos, the top sale of the evening was Rom Isichei’s Vacancy of Stares, an oil on paper that sold for N1,150,000 million.

The auction also featured charity lots by Muraina Oyelami, A. Akande, Joseph Eze, Tony Enebeli and Dipo Doherty. Like in previous editions, the charity sales are in support of the Arthouse Foundation, a non-profit artist residency programme in Lagos. It raised a total of N870,000 during

the charity sales. Proceeds from the charity lots, according to Arthouse, will go directly to support the programmes of the Arthouse Foundation, including its residencies, workshops, talks and public events

Toheeb Ibrahim's

Ilu Wa

(2016

Thread collage on board

48 x 63 cm. (19 x 25 in.)

Among the top sales of the third Affordable auction were Gerald Chukwuma’s Akuko Ifo, a mixed media diptych, sold for N920,000; Ebong Ekwere’s wood sculpture, Dancing Torso, sold for N805,000; Reuben Ugbine’s Meditation II for N805,000; Abayomi Barber’s Dream Man, a pastel on paper as well as Ato Delaquis’ The Lagoon, an acrylic on canvas, also sold for NGN 805,000 each.

Ahead of the sales, the auction preview tagged 'Art Night Out', took place on March 1, 2018 at the Kia Showroom, featuring art, music and live performances. Refreshments were provided by Thai Thai, Le Connaisseur, 7UP and Krispy Kreme, along with a live drawing performance by Dipo Doherty and a DJ set by ISSIMO. Guests participated in the annual Selfie Competition, featuring the person with the most likes winning an original artwork.

The Affordable Art Auction aims to engage new collectors with all works of art estimated below one million naira. As the sister edition to the May and November auctions, the Affordable auction is designed to feature artworks that are scaled to an affordable and accessible price point.

The auction featured 108 lots by leading modern and contemporary artists such as Ben Enwonwu, Uche Okeke, Bruce Onobrakpeya, David Dale, Kolade Oshinowo, Jacob Afolabi, Jimoh Buraimoh, Solomon Wangboje and Susanne Wenger.

Paintings and sculpture from leading contemporary artists included works of Lemi Ghariokwu, Diseye Tantua, Tola Wewe, Uchay Joel Chima and Ben Osaghae. The Affordable Art Auction also featured many emerging and rising artists, including Yadichinma Ukoha-Kalu, Dennis Osadebe, Abisola Gbadamosi, Williams Chechet, Dare Adenuga, Patrick Akpojotor, Habeeb Andu and Femi Morakinyo, who participated for the first time.

The event highlighted photography, that featured image- based work by Leonce Raphael Agbdojelou, Kadara Enyeasi, Logo Oluwamuyiwa, Stephen Tayo, Tam Fiofori, Reze Bonna and Dandelion Eghosa.

The debut edition in 2016, had lots in the Affordable auction up to half a million naira while last year they went up to a million naira.

The sales then had lower percentage of lots sold but higher total figures.

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