Ben Enwonwu's Spirit of Ogolo sets new artist record

Nigerian artist Ben Enwonwu's Spirit of Ogolo was the lead lot of Bonhams' Africa Now sale, setting a new record for a painting by the artist at auction.

Ben Enwonwu Spirit
Ben Enwonwu was a pioneer of African modernism

It realised £218,500 ($321,410) in the May 25 auction in London.

Enwonwu's overall auction record is £361,250 ($531,413), set for a series of wooden statues in 2013.

Bonhams' Giles Peppiatt said: "The outstanding success of this sale - in all ten new world records were set - shows that the appetite among collectors for the very best of African Modern art is extremely strong."

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