The emergence of young Contemporary African artists, not only living and working on the continent but also across the diaspora, is a well-documented phenomenon of the twenty-first century, in tandem with a growing appreciation internationally and institutionally for contemporary African art. This February, Sotheby’s Tel Aviv will join forces with the founders of the Olym Collection to present ‘Contemporary Redefined: Africa Today’, the first exhibition of its kind to be held by the company in Tel Aviv. Featuring the new vanguard of African Contemporary artists within the Sub-Saharan and Western regions of the continent, the exhibition is a unique grouping of 31 works by more than 20 artists originating from eight African countries.
The artworks selected for display are being loaned from the Olym Collection, a private collection of contemporary African art founded by two brothers based in Israel. Assembled over recent years, as a result of their frequent trips to Africa, and their personal desire to be exposed to diverse artistic practices across the various geographical regions on the continent, the collection reflects a sustained period of intense collecting activity, drawing on informed custodianship and intellectual curiosity. The Olym Collection takes its name from the Hebrew word ‘Aliyah’, which translates as ‘elevation’ – for the brothers, collecting art is akin to elevating the soul.
The exhibition is curated by the Ghanaian artist and social entrepreneur Joseph Awuah-Darko. As the founder and Director of the Noldor Artist Residency and the President of the Institute Museum of Ghana in Accra, Awuah-Darko is a leading figure in the African art scene. A young entrepreneur and also an artist, a musician, and a social activist, with accomplishments widely documented through outlets including the Financial Times, The Art Newspaper, Forbes and Art Forum, he was selected as a member of Forbes Africa 30 under 30 class of 2019.
