A unique online auction hosted by Wits Art Museum opens on Monday, 18 May 2015 at 8:00, and will feature phenomenal contemporary South African art, with many of the artworks accessibly priced in order to grow the circle of financial supporters for the museum.

The online auction will be accessible via StraussOnline. Online bidding will close at 13:00 on Tuesday, 26 May.

If you’ve ever dreamt of owning work by accomplished artists such as Joni Brenner, Kudzani Chiurai, Keith Dietrich, Paul Emmanuel, Dan Halter, Phillemon Hlungwani, Nandipha Mntambo, Zanele Muholi, Walter Oltmann, Jonah Sack and Penny Siopis, then now’s your chance. There’s also an unprecedented opportunity to acquire superb vintage sculptures by Limpopo artists such as Johannes Masawanganyi, Phillip Rikhotso, Owen Ndou and Freddy Ramabulana.

The works, generously donated by about 25 contemporary artists and collectors, will be available on the online auction, giving art lovers a jump on the physical auction, which takes place at the end of May 2015.

All proceeds from the auction go towards the museum’s endowment, which supports the sustainability and growth of the institution. To date, Wits Art Museum has collections of nearly 11 000 artworks that have been shared with art lovers in the City of Johannesburg for three years. The endowment was set up in 2013 with an initial target of R25-million and in less than two years an extraordinary R18-million has been raised and invested.

Bidvest, through the extraordinary ongoing patronage of its chief executive Brian Joffe, has sponsored the costs of the event so that all proceeds will accrue to the endowment. The auction will be conducted on a pro-bono basis by Strauss & Co. BASA, Spier Wines, Rosebank College, Ooh LaLa Confectionery and Yswara tea have also assisted.

The highly anticipated auction will be a high-status, exclusive event attracting collectors, art lovers and supporters of the arts and is sure to stir up great excitement in all prospective bidders. Guests will also have the privilege of seeing the debut screening of William Kentridge’s latest film More Sweetly Play the Dance.

The artworks will be exhibited at the museum between Thursday, 14 May and Sunday, 24 May, and interested people may view them then. In addition, a talkabout with strategy and development curator Lesley Cohen and some of the artists who have donated work will take place on Saturday, 23 May at Noon.

The auction promises to be an important and fun event that will successfully contribute to ensuring that the Wits Art Museum will become and remain a leading museum of African art. The auction is by invitation only. Prospective bidders should contact [email protected]  for more information. Wits Art Museum is open Wednesdays to Sundays from 10:00 to 16:00.

For more information, visit the Wits Art Museum website. Alternatively, connect with them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.