Sold at Auction: Ben Enwonwu

Born in Nigeria, Ben Enwonwu studied at Goldsmith College of London in 1944 before graduating from Slade School of Fine Arts in 1948. Known for their infusion of African modernism and culturally relevant themes, Ben Enwonwu's paintings show his connection to his Igbo heritage. Appropriately, he was commissioned by his government to sculpt a symbol of the new Nigerian nation. The Ben Enwonwu sculpture was entitled Anyanwu, which means sunshine in Igbo.

Having been the first African artist commissioned to sculpt a bronze portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, Enwonwu gained worldwide attention. The Ben Enwonwu art piece was presented to the Royal Society of British Artists, where it was well received. Ben Enwonwu's paintings and sculptures eventually garnered him the National Order of Merit in 1980, awarded by the Nigerian government in recognition of his contributions to art and culture. View inspiring representations of other cultures by browsing impressive figural sculptures online.