Sotheby’s fourth sale of modern and contemporary African Art in London has established new auction records for 11 artists, with buyers from the African continent accounting for 70 per cent of the total sold by value

The sale was led by contemporary Ghanaian artist El Anatsui, whose metallic aluminium bottle cap tapestry, titled Zebra Crossing 2, established the third highest price for a work by the artist at auction.

The sale coincides with the largest survey exhibition of El Anatsui’s work to date curated by Okwui Enwezor and Chika Okeke-Agulu in Munich and precedes his representation of Ghana at the Venice Biennale later this year.

A powerful celebration of his homeland, Hassan El Glaoui’s La Sortie du Roi achieved an auction record for the artist.

New heights were reached for rising star Eddy Kamuanga Ilunga, aged 28.

Congolese artist and co-founder of the ‘Popular Painting’ movement, Chéri Samba’s glittering J’aime la couleur from 2005 realised a record price.

Hannah O’Leary, head of modern and contemporary African Art at Sotheby, said, “Exceeding all pre-sale expectations, today’s auction reflects the continued strength of, and appreciation for, the modern and contemporary African Art market.”

“Standing at the forefront of the field, Sotheby’s sale saw a multitude of new records for artists from across the African diaspora, including the father of Congolese ‘Popular’ painting Chéri Samba, Moroccan master Hassan El Glaoui, and rising star Eddy Kamuanga Ilunga. We also saw a fantastic result for Ghanaian artist El Anatsui, who will be representing the country for the first time at the Venice Biennale later this year. Today’s auction signals a continued international interest in the category, spanning the African continent and extending across the globe,” O’Leary added.