This benefit auction supports the revival of Serge Tiroche’s artist residency program, building on a commitment to artistic development that began in 2010. Originally established in Israel through the Tiroche DeLeon residency initiative, the program developed a particular focus on emerging artists from Africa and its diaspora with the founding of Africa First in 2017.
Over the years, residencies in Israel and collaborations in Italy and across Africa have offered artists time and space to experiment, experience new cultures, and connect with curators, collectors, and fellow artists. Participants have included Wycliffe Mundopa, Helen Teede, and Gresham Nyaude in 2018, and Cyrus Kabiru and Mongezi Ncaphayi in 2019.
Highlights include Nirit Takele’s 2018 residency in Ethiopia with Addis Fine Art; Simphiwe Mbunyuza’s 2022 residency at Bezalel and Shenkar in Israel; and the 2023 Africa 1:1 LAB in Venice, co-produced with AKKA Projects, which brought together five African artists and culminated in an exhibition at the city’s Ca’ Pesaro museum.
Proceeds from this auction will help bring the program back, welcoming more artists from developing and underrepresented art markets. Each purchase will help create opportunities to make new work, broaden horizons, and build lasting connections, continuing a belief that supporting artists means investing not only in their work, but in their futures, and that of the broader public.
Bidding is open exclusively on Artsy and will begin closing on Tuesday, September 22nd at 12:00 ET.