Modern & Contemporary African & Middle Eastern Art Auction

London, UK: Olympia Auctions will showcase paintings, works on paper and sculpture from Arab nations and African countries in their biggest auction yet of Modern and Contemporary African and Middle Eastern Art on Wednesday 7th May 2025. Ten Nigerian artists are appearing for the first time at auction just as their country’s pioneering art is receiving worldwide acclaim. There is a collection of classical South African pictures from one of the country’s major collections, important Botswanan paintings, and a range of works by established Egyptian artists whose names are now known on a global scale. The sale includes modernist artists as well as emerging talent.
Olympia Auctions’ expert Janet Rady has pioneered the secondary market for Middle Eastern art since 2013. She has made Olympia Auctions the go-to place for Egyptian art, is a trusted expert on art from Syria, Iraq, Palestine and Lebanon, and is now focused on introducing African art to a wider audience.

Nigerian Pioneers
Janet Rady said: “Tate Modern is holding a major exhibition on Nigerian Modernism in October. In Paris, the Centre Pompidou is showing Paris Noir: Artistic Movements and Anticolonial Struggles, 1950-2000. At the recent Tefaf, there was more African art than ever before. African art is becoming a mainstream subject of scholarly and institutional attention – and that makes it a great time to start collecting. Each of the artists in our sale presents a different response to their culture – to social and artistic traditions and to their country’s 20th century, post-colonial history.” Nigerian artists, many known to African collectors, include earlier generation Sam Ntiro, Asiru Olatunde (1918-1993) and Suzanne Wenger (1915- 2009). Young pioneers of a satirical style include Kingsley Obasi (b.1983), Simeon Nwoko (b. 1996), Henry James (b. 1996), John Alogi (b. 1994), and Sidney Osioh (b. 1990). Works range from the joyful lampooning of what is ‘iconic’ (see striking work above by Henry James) to the more politically charged depictions of individuals.

Egyptian Modernists
There are no fewer than 15 Egyptian artists in this sale and they make this one of the largest and most varied selection of Egyptian art available to buy outside Egypt. George Bahgoury (b.1932) and Guirguis Lofty (b.1953) carry the sale’s top estimates for Oum Kalthoum (£25,000-30,000) and Kindly 2020 (£12,000-£14,000). Works from the prestigious Zulficar collection also feature in the sale, including oils and works on paper by sought-after artists Samir Rafi (1926-2004), Seif Wanly (1906 – 1979) and Ahmad Osman (1907 – 1970).

A Classic South African Collection includes bronze nude figures by Jean Doyle and landscapes by Jan Ernst Abraham Volschenk (1853-1936) and Hugo Naude (1869-1941) showing the influence of European artistic traditions.

Botswanan expression
Lithographs and linocuts of vividly coloured and expressive depictions of flowers, plants and animals make up this section of the sale by artists such as Qaeqhao Moses (b.1973). and Dada (1934-2008). These are good entry level works for new collectors; low estimates start at £400. Janet Rady concluded: “The thirst for knowledge about modern and contemporary African and Middle Eastern art is very exciting and I hope to continue to support and promote the market to give artists the recognition they deserve both here in the UK and in their own countries”.

Talk on One of the World’s Best Private Collection of African Art
Olympia Auctions will be hosting a talk on the Arak Collection, home to more than 4,000 works by African artists and the one of the world’s greatest private collections in this field. The collection was founded by Abdul Rahman Al Khelaifi and is the subject of a definitive, recently published, book.

THE ARAK COLLECTION AND HOW TO COLLECT EMERGING AFRICAN ART TALK will take place at Olympia Auctions on 1st May. The event takes place during the Private View. Doors open at 5:00 – 8:30pm and the Talk starts at 7:00pm. Panellists will include Art Historian Elikem Logan, curator, writer and researcher Heba El Kayal and Olympia Auctions expert Janet Rady. Click HERE for tickets.

MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY AFRICAN AND MIDDLE EASTERN ART AUCTION takes place on 7TH MAY at 12:00pm.

PUBLIC EXHIBITION:
Thursday 1st May 10:00am – 8.30pm
Friday 2nd May 10:00am – 5:00pm
Monday 5th May 12:00pm – 4:00pm
Tuesday 6th May: 10:00am – 5:00pm

For further press information and images, please contact:
antonia.grace@olympiaauctions.com | 0207 806 5541 or 07748103440

Editor’s Notes
Olympia Auctions – London’s expert auctioneers at Kensington Olympia
Our experts have years of experience working at the top of their fields and have come together to form a new kind of auction house. At Olympia Auctions we believe in research, knowledge and taking time to share our expertise with clients, no matter what the value. We hold sales in almost all specialist areas: paintings, silver, jewellery, European, Chinese and Japanese works of art, books, prints, arms and armour and are innovators in the sale of artist studio estates, contemporary Chinese, Indian, Middle Eastern and African art.

Olympia Auctions 25 Blythe Road London W14 0PD | www.olympiaauctions.com