We never imagined how successful our 2011 Just Around the Corner art auction was going to be. Hundreds of contributors from all around the globe, all across the art world came together and changed the lives of thousand of people in Northern Kenya, with our local partner Miligs Trust. The Just Around the Next Corner charity art auction will help Voss Foundation and Milgis Trust preserve the Samburu way of life through access to clean drinking water, improved education and environmental conservation.

On May 31nd, Voss Foundation again shattered records at its Just Around the Next Corner Art Auction at Kistefos Museum outside Oslo, Norway, raising NOK 5, 5 millions to improve the lives of people across Sub-Saharan Africa with access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene. In total the auction raised NOK 11 millions, on the back of a donation from the founder and owner of The Kistefos Museum Mr. Christen Sveaas.

The event more than doubled the success of the original 2011 Just Around the Corner Art Auction. Kistefos Museum saw crowds with over 2,500 attendees. A number of works by international artists sold at multiples of their estimates, including pieces by Josh Smith (NOK 450,000), Mikkel McAlinden (NOK 220,000), Marina Abramović (NOK 26,000), Marianne Heske (NOK 110,000), Pøbel (NOK 45,000), Hedde Grevle Ottesen (NOK 80,000), William Wegman (NOK 30,000), Steinar Jakobsen (NOK 160,000), Mimmo Paladino (NOK 32,000) and Elmgreen & Dragset. McAlinden saw the highest price his work has ever fetched at auction.

The auction was made possible through generous contributions from artist, collectors and galleries across the art world. Contributing artists of the 2015 auction included Josh Smith, Mikkel McAlinden, Jeppe Hein, Thomas Saraseno, Marina Abramović, Per Barclay, Andreas Eriksson, Marianne Heske, Fredrik Værslev, Pøbel, John Gerrard, Ole Jørgen Ness and Ida Ekblad.

Some of the artworks sold during the Just Around the Corner Charity Art Auction, 2015

Ida Ekblad, “Untitled (Tracks)”, 2015

Mari Slaattelid, “To a great musician”, 2015

Nobuyoshi Araki, “Chiro’s Death Anniversary”, 2011

William Wegman, “Four Legged”, 2010

Tiril Hasselknippe, “Surfboard (blue, clear, black, green)”, 2010

Photo: the artists

Just Around the Corner

Voss Foundation 2011

The Just Around the Corner charity art auction was held in May 2011 in cooperation with the Kistefos Museum. The auction raised NOK 4,2 millions where all the 52 lots were sold. The auction marked Sotheby's first event in Norway and was conducted by Lord Poltimore, Deputy Chairman, Sotheby's Europe. The auction was arranged by Cecilie Malm Brundtland and Anette Krosby and was a result of global collaboration between artists, collectors and galleries lasting over a year. Contributing artists included Marc Quinn, Tony Cragg, Candida Hofer, Darren Almond, Gardar Eide Einarsson, A K Dolven, Bjarne Melgaard and Olav Christopher Jenssen.