In 1962, Picelj initiated a series of his self-published “Edition a” art booklets, having released a total of seven publications up until 1964. Each issue of “Edition a” featured the work of one artist —mostly of a colleague whose work he admired.
In 1962, Picelj initiated a series of his self-published “Edition a” art booklets, having released a total of seven publications up until 1964. Each issue of “Edition a” featured the work of one artist —mostly of a colleague whose work he admired.
Art that connects. An exhibition that opens a dialogue. An auction that changes lives.
For centuries, Venice has been a meeting place for cultures, artists, collectors and ideas. It is here that art transcends geographical, social and cultural boundaries. TOP CHARITY Venice Experience continues this tradition by creating an event in which art becomes a space for dialogue, education and meaningful action.
The first international edition of TOP CHARITY Venice Experience, initiated by Polish-Ghanaian philanthropist Omena Mensah, brought together leading figures from the worlds of business, art and culture in Venice. Over the course of a single evening, Polish entrepreneurs demonstrated the scale of their ambitions and their power to make a meaningful difference in the world. The auction raised more than €3 million, equivalent to over PLN 13 million allocated to social causes. This means that, during the bidding, an average of approximately €34,000 was raised every minute. TOP CHARITY has thus established itself as one of the most effective philanthropic initiatives in Europe, outperforming the results of many comparable events across the continent.
The most thrilling moment of the evening at TOP CHARITY Venice Experience was the bidding for Andy Warhol’s 1973 portrait “Katie Jones.” The work sold for €1.15 million, or nearly PLN 5 million, setting the highest publicly recorded price for a single artwork sold at a charity auction in Venice. The presence of Katie Jones at Hotel Cipriani, where the gala took place, was no coincidence. The hotel was one of the favourite destinations of São Schlumberger, the distinguished art collector and subject of one of Warhol’s portraits. Fifty years after its creation, the work returned to a world closely associated with the Schlumberger family — this time in support of the philanthropic mission of OmenaArt Foundation.
Nine exceptional works of art were offered at the charity auction, reflecting a diversity of generations, cultures, perspectives and forms of artistic expression:
1. Andy Warhol (US), “Katie Jones,” 1973 — €1,150,000 (approx. PLN 4,979,500),
2. Cornelius Annor (GH), “Nkrumah Pencil,” 2026 — €160,000 (approx. PLN 692,800),
3. Xawery Wolski (PL), “Ogniwa nieskończoności” [“Links of Infinity”], 2018, ed. 1/8 — €70,000 (approx. PLN 303,100),
4. Antoine Farrugia (MT), “Untitled,” 2008 — €70,000 (approx. PLN 303,100),
5. Raphael Adjetey Adjei Mayne (GH), “One Corner,” 2026 — €70,000 (approx. PLN 303,100),
6. Ewa Czwartos (PL), “Charyty” [“The Charites”], 2026 — €65,000 (approx. PLN 281,450),
7. Tegene Kunbi (ET), “Imperial Garden,” 2026 — €60,000 (approx. PLN 259,800),
8. Nikol Andonova – NIKYOTO (BG), “Molten Marble,” 2026 — €50,000 (approx. PLN 216,500),
9. LR Vandy (GB/SL), “Linked,” 2023 — €45,000 (approx. PLN 194,850).
The fifth season of TOP CHARITY is being developed around a dialogue between Europe and Africa. Following the Warsaw edition dedicated to Ghana, Asante culture and the historical ties between Poland and Africa, the Venice edition placed Ethiopia at the heart of its narrative. The evening’s central theme was the legend of the Queen of Sheba and King Solomon, interpreted as a contemporary metaphor for wisdom, curiosity about the world, dialogue and responsible leadership.
Special guests of the event included Asfaw Shiferaw Sahle and his daughter, Princess Kelmwork Asfaw Shiferaw, representatives of the Ethiopian imperial family. The Venice edition also marked the beginning of a collaboration with The Order of the Queen of Sheba Foundation, which supports research, education and the preservation of the cultural heritage of African civilisations.
One of the most important dimensions of TOP CHARITY Venice Experience is education.
The exhibition was conceived not only as a presentation of exceptional works of art, but also as an invitation to discover the artists themselves, their stories and the cultures from which their practices emerge. Bringing together artists from different continents encourages audiences to see contemporary art as a space for the exchange of experiences, ideas and perspectives.
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