17 Oct View Auction

Articles

Photograph of Haitian artist Hector Hyppolite seated beside his painting of La Sirène, a Vodou mermaid goddess – a rare glimpse into the legendary painter’s spiritual studio.
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15 min read

Hector Hyppolite: The Visionary Who Brought Vodou to Canvas

Hector Hyppolite – the self-taught Haitian Vodou painter whose visionary works enchanted the Surrealists – returns to the spotlight with a rare piece featured in Aurora & Athena’s November 8 auction.
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Irma Stern mixing paint on a palette in her studio, with an unfinished portrait of an African woman behind her.
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10 min read

Irma Stern and the Legacy of African Modernism

Irma Stern transformed South African modern art with her vivid portraits and expressive still lifes. From Berlin to Zanzibar, her paintings capture the essence of African life with empathy and bold color.
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Josef Šíma in his Paris studio, 1950s – the Czech modernist painter known for his lyrical abstractions and exploration of light and geometry.
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11 min read

Josef Šíma’s Auction History and Market Performance

As Šíma’s market reaches new heights, Aurora & Athena explores his artistic journey, legacy, and record-breaking auction history, culminating in the rare offering of this poetic work in our November 8, 2025 Fine Art Auction.
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Andy Warhol’s pop art portrait of Marilyn Monroe symbolizing 20th Century Art
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17 min read

10 Surprising Ways 20th Century Art Changed the World and the Art Market

The evolution of 20th Century Art is a thrilling saga of innovation, rebellion, and cultural transformation. In a mere hundred years, art leaped from the genteel scenes of the 19th century into a brave new world of abstraction, experimentation, and social commentary.
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Ben Enwonwu sculpting the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II in his studio, 1956 — the first royal commission awarded to an African artist.
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16 min read

Ben Enwonwu: Nigerian Art Pioneer Behind the “African Mona Lisa”

Renowned Nigerian Igbo artist Ben Enwonwu (1917–1994) pioneered modern African art by blending indigenous traditions with Western techniques. From sculpting Queen Elizabeth II to painting the famed “Tutu” that broke auction records, Enwonwu’s legacy endures in today’s African art market and contemporary art scene.
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Frequently Asked Questions

Have questions about participating in our auctions or submitting your artwork? Find answers to common inquiries below, or feel free to reach out for more details.
Our current selection of artworks available for private sale may be viewed in our Online Gallery.
Selected works may also be viewed in our showroom by prior appointment.
All Aurora & Athena auctions are held online. The simplest way to take part is to create an account on auroraathena.com: once approved, you can leave a maximum bid on any lot before the sale and bid live in our own auction room, with a buyer's premium of 25% — lower than on third-party platforms. Our sales are also listed on LiveAuctioneers, Invaluable, Drouot or BidSpirit, where the buyer's premium is 30%. See our How to Bid page for the full guide.
Not at the moment — we don't offer telephone bidding. You can bid from anywhere in the world in our own online auction room (create an account on auroraathena.com, 25% buyer's premium), or through LiveAuctioneers, Invaluable, Drouot or BidSpirit (30% buyer's premium).
Yes. Once your account on auroraathena.com is approved, open any lot in the catalogue and leave your maximum bid — we bid for you, step by step, only as far as needed, and you can raise or withdraw it until the lot comes up in the live sale. Your maximum is never shown to other bidders. Absentee bids can also be left on LiveAuctioneers, Invaluable, Drouot or BidSpirit, at their 30% buyer's premium. For the full guide, see our How to Bid page.
Yes. All artworks may be viewed in our showroom by appointment only. We encourage collectors to inspect artworks in person whenever possible.
Credit card payments are accepted for purchases up to €10,000. Purchases exceeding this amount must be paid by bank wire transfer.
For auction purchases, payment is due within 14 days of the auction. For gallery purchases and private sales, payment terms are agreed individually.
For purchases of €1,000 or more, buyers must complete our client registration (KYC) procedure before the transaction can be finalized. Required documentation includes a completed Client Registration Form, a valid passport or national ID, and proof of address dated within the last three months.
For auction purchases, where applicable, KYC documentation and payment must both be completed within 14 days of the auction.
Yes. Artworks may be collected by appointment or shipped worldwide. For every purchase — at auction, through the gallery, or via a private sale — Aurora & Athena coordinates professional, insured shipping on your behalf with trusted logistics partners. If you'd prefer to arrange your own shipping instead, we're happy to work with a provider of your choice.
It’s easy! Just fill out the form on our website: auroraathena.com/sell — or email us at sell@auroraathena.com. Be sure to include key details like the artist, technique, size, and clear photos of the artwork (front, back, and signature if possible). The more information you provide, the better we can evaluate your submission. We’ll get back to you as soon as we review it!
Auction purchases are governed by our Auction Terms & Conditions. Gallery purchases and private sales are governed by our Gallery Terms & Conditions.
If you require any additional information regarding our auctions, gallery, private sales or services, we would be delighted to assist. Contact us via our Contact page or email contact@auroraathena.com.

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