As part of Amref Health Africa’s 2024 ArtBall, the evening will feature a Contemporary African and Black art auction hosted by Sotheby’s. With art curated by Storm Ascher, Natalie Kates, Cierra Britton, Alexandra Scotland, and Nadia Nascimento, select donating artists include Hank Willis Thomas, Khalif Tahir Thompson, Adama Delphine Fawundu, Alex Anderson, Damien Davis, Genevieve Gaignard, Jamel Robinson, Lewinale Havette, Megan Gabrielle Harris, Crystal Yayra Anthony, Roscoe B Thicke, Rudy Shepherd, Troy Jones, and Turiya Magadlela.
As avid collectors and engaged philanthropists, this Amref ArtBall is close to co-hosts Spike and Tonya Lewis Lee’s hearts.
“As someone who advocates for better health outcomes for women and children here in the United States in general, I know that health is the foundation for everything. An organization that really is focused on the health and wellness of Black and Brown people in the world, because we need it. I am just really proud.” – Tonya Lewis Lee
Beyond their affinity for Amref, the Lees’ accomplished daughter, the photographer Satchel Lee, has also donated a work to auction at the event. Tonya Lewis Lee commented, “The work is recognized for what it is, and Satchel’s work speaks in a way to the ethos of what ArtBall is.” Satchel Lee added, “I’m very excited about ArtBall and being included and being there just for a great evening. It’s nice when everything feels like it aligns. This is a really good opportunity to get familiar with a lot of amazing up and coming artists.”
This year, Amref will be honoring Artist Kehinde Wiley with The Rees Visionary Award. Best known for his portraits that render people of color in the traditional settings of Old Master paintings, including his most famous subject, Barack Obama for the National Portrait Gallery. Amref’s Rees Visionary Award, named after their founder Dr. Thomas Rees, honors individuals who have changed the discourse around African and Black art.
The full list of 2024 Donating Artists includes: Adama Delphine Fawundu, Lewinale Havette, Megan Gabrielle Harris, Maya Beverly, Nicolas Lambert Coleman, Hank Willis Thomas, Roscoè B. Thické III, Jamel Robinson, Rudy Shepherd, Theda Sandiford, Samuel Nnorom, Turiya Magadlela, Pamela Sneed, Dana Robinson, Dapo Davinci, Cavier Coleman, Ferguson Amo, Troy Jones, Damien Davis, Kevin Claiborne, Katarra Peterson, Kenrick McFarlane, Larissa De Jesus Negron, Haleigh Nickerson, Myles Loftin, Genevieve Gaignard, Adrienne Elise Tarver, Ronald Robinson, Jacob Mason-Macklin, Crystal Yayra Anthony, Layo Bright, Diana Eusebio, Ousmane Ba, Jazmine Hayes, Audrey Lyall, Naïla Opiangah, Devin B. Johnson, Satchel Lee, Anthony Akinbola, Alex Anderson, Auudi Dorsey, and Kalif Tahir Thompson. Six of the 2024 auction artists are alumni of Kehinde’s Black Rock artist residency program in Senegal. They include Devin B. Johnson, Anthony Akinbola, Ousmane Ba, Nicolas Lambert Coleman, Kalif Tahir Thompson, and Samuel Nnorom.
Amref’s ArtBall, the event centered around the premier contemporary African, Pan-African, and Black art auction to benefit Amref’s work, will take place in Brooklyn on May 4th, 2024.
The Amref’s ArtBall online auction opens April 22 nd at 10 am EST, closes May 6th, 12pm EST.
©2024 Amref Health Africa
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