COURTESY SOTHEBY’S
Sotheby’s announced today that it will begin holding sales of modern and contemporary African art in London, with Hannah O’Leary serving as the head of the department. The first auction will take place in early 2017.
O’Leary first joined Sotheby’s in 2005 before moving to Bonhams in London where she has been for the next decade. During this time O’Leary helped organize the first international auctions of South African art, and also sold work from throughout the continent.
The managing director for Sotheby’s Europe, Maarten Ten Holder, said in a statement released to press, “Hannah O’Leary brings with her a wealth of experience in this vibrant and fascinating area of the market. Her career to date has been characterized by bold endeavor and outstanding achievement, and we are delighted that she will now lead our new initiative. The African art scene is thriving, and as our sales develop in 2017, we anticipate that we will establish a significant profile in this field, while also looking to enhance our presence on the African continent.”