Warhol, Calder works sold for charity

New York -  Works by artists Andy Warhol and Alexander Calder will be sold at a charity auction in November for orphaned and other vulnerable children in Africa, Sotheby's said on Tuesday.

The second Art for Africa auction, which will be held on November 17 in New York, will benefit the Africa Foundation, which supports children in south and eastern Africa's poorest rural communities.

In addition to Calder and Warhol, whose work has commanded high prices during the past decade, US artists include Peter Beard, Alex Katz, Nick Cave, Ross Bleckner, Matt Magee and Jeff Sonhouse.

Works by African artists such as Mary Sibande, Sue Williamson, Beezy Bailey and others will also be auctioned.

Enormous enthusiasm

The first Art for Africa auction, held in London in 2009, raised $750 000.

"The first highly successful sale in London saw enormous enthusiasm from collectors for works by some of the rising stars of African and international contemporary art," said Scott Nussbaum, contemporary art specialist at Sotheby's.

"We once again look forward to presenting the work of cutting-edge African artists alongside some of the major names in American Contemporary art to raise money for this wonderful charity," he added in a statement.

Frederick Waddell, the chairman and CEO of Chicago-based international financial services company Northern Trust, which is co-sponsoring the event, said its philanthropic mission aims to better the lives of people in need.

Works that will be sold in the auction will be exhibited at Sotheby's New York from November 12 to 17.