The great Ghanaian-born, Nigeria-based sculptor
El Anatsui has donated a major new artwork—Wade in the Water, 2021 (8' x 8'), which was assembled at Brandywine Workshop and Archives over several months in 2021. It will be sold at the evening auction at Sotheby's London to benefit the establishment of the El Anatsui Fellowships in Printmaking at BWA. Planning is underway to initiate the Anatsui Fellowships, which will further the artistic, professional, and personal development of artists living and working on the continent who exhibit talent, commitment to a career as a visual artist, are disadvantaged by socioeconomic factors, and/or have limited access to the art market, gallery representation, and institutional support due to location.

All proceeds from the auction will be invested in a newly established, specially designated endowed fund that—pending auction results—will underwrite travel and living expenses, provide an honorarium, and deliver all the creative and technical resources and opportunities of a month-long residency at BWA for two artists each year. During the artists' concurrent residencies, they will visit artist studios and art museums in Philadelphia, New York City, and Washington, DC. The first year of residencies is planned for fall 2023. Hannah O'Leary, Sotheby London’s Director/Head of Modern and Contemporary African Art, is coordinating the sale.