Explore View Gallery

Articles

Ben Enwonwu sculpting the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II in his studio, 1956 — the first royal commission awarded to an African artist.
•
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.
Read Article

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.
Aurora & Athena generally holds three online auctions each year, typically in March, June and November. Our gallery operates year-round, offering carefully curated artworks through private sales
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! You can leave absentee bids directly on LiveAuctioneers, Invaluable or BidSpirit at any time before the auction begins.

Alternatively, if you prefer not to bid through a platform, you can submit an absentee bid directly to us. With a signed absentee bid form and valid ID, we’ll place bids on your behalf up to the maximum amount you specify.

For full details, please visit 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 €5,000. 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.

Stay ahead of the art world

Sign up for our newsletter to receive exclusive updates on upcoming auctions, new catalog releases, and more!