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Wilanów once again at the centre of global art and philanthropy

Wilanów was bursting at the seams! Omenaa Mensah – ambassador of Africa in Europe – celebrates the 5th anniversary of TOP CHARITY with a crowd of Polish and international stars. Promoting Poland in international salons and showcasing top African and international art.

This is how bridges are built between continents! During the jubilee 5th season of TOP CHARITY, Omenaa Mensah proved that she is the most important ambassador of African culture in this part of Europe. In the Wilanów Orangery, side by side with Rafał Brzoska, she presented works whose prices on world markets are dizzying. When Amoako Boafo's canvases worth millions of euros shine on the walls, and Joanna Przetakiewicz or Monika Olejnik shine in the wings, further records of philanthropy are broken. It is here that European luxury meets the mission of saving hundreds of children in Ghana and supporting thousands of people in Poland and around the world, creating a new quality that the whole world is talking about.

In the spring of 2026, the Wilanów gardens once again become the heart of an international dialogue between art, business, and philanthropy. For the fourth time, the Orangery of the Museum of King Jan III's Palace hosts TOP CHARITY Art – a unique event that has been available free of charge to all visitors since April 17. The democratization of art and the removal of barriers to access to high culture is one of the key statutory goals of the OmenaArt Foundation. TOP CHARITY Art is an integral part of the jubilee, fifth edition of the largest philanthropic initiative in this part of Europe, TOP CHARITY, created by Omenaa Mensah and Rafał Brzoska.

An initiative that for five years has been building an international community of business, philanthropy, and art people. It is co-created by male and female artists and collectors, donating works that turn into aid for those in need in Poland and around the world.

The funds from the auction have enabled, among others, care for 1,200 wards in Polish Children's Homes; support for the education of 7,157 students; saving 578 children from slave labor in Ghana; providing development and scholarships for 99 students; and supporting artists and cultural institutions, including through cooperation with the Museum of King Jan III's Palace in Wilanów and developing a dialogue between contemporary art and history.

In the jubilee season 2025/2026, TOP CHARITY will implement a total of 238 aid projects, of which as many as 196 fall to the Philanthropic Consortium itself, which transfers funds to external non-governmental organizations. This initiative, built together with Polish business, is becoming a new, mature model of philanthropy with a global reach, with as much as 69% of funds dedicated to goals realized in Poland.

Omenaa Mensah i Rafał Brzoska
Omenaa Mensah i Rafał Brzoska

This year's edition is special not only because of the jubilee, but also because of the record scale of the exhibition and the level of the works presented. Four editions of TOP CHARITY Art have been seen by over 220,000 people so far.

This year, the exhibition is divided into three chapters: the TOP CHARITY Art exhibition, the reveal of the OmenaArt Foundation African art collection, and the Phenomenaa Gallery selection. The presentation is complemented by large-format objects in the Sculpture Garden and an exhibition as part of the Art Cat ASANTE project. This year's inauguration is accompanied by a unique special guest – Heather Small, the iconic voice of the band M People.

This is an event that over the years has built a unique community of artists, collectors, and people with big hearts, proving that art has the real power to change reality.

As Omenaa Mensah, the initiator of TOP CHARITY, emphasizes:

„Over the last five years, TOP CHARITY has become a global voice for new philanthropy and a strong platform building a new model of responsible engagement in Europe. It is a space where the world of the highest art becomes more accessible and the presented works not only carry a load of true stories and address socially important topics, but also realistically translate into education, safety, and hope for a better future. I am glad that our initiative has today become a voice through which Poland and Europe speak through art in its most beautiful and moving form. This year's edition is of particular importance to me because it is also dedicated to the extraordinary art and history of the African continent, where my roots come from”.

The fifth season of TOP CHARITY is a unique and deeply symbolic moment for Omenaa Mensah and the entire family of her foundation; it is specifically dedicated to Africa, its enormous potential, and its beautiful, multi-dimensional history. This year's exhibition, prepared by the initiator together with curator Natalia Bradbury, is a sentimental and artistic journey to the 1960s.

Natalia Bradbury

It is a return to the times of great cooperation between Poland and Africa – including Ghana, Omenaa's father's homeland. It is not without reason that among the carefully selected works of artists from this continent, such outstanding world-class stars as Amoako Boafo, recognized as the most expensive-selling African artist, whose canvas "Hands Up" was auctioned in Hong Kong for a record amount of approximately 3.1 million euros, were presented. His work "Laced Fingers," painted with a characteristic fingertip technique, is one of the brightest points of the exhibition. Currently, the estimated value of this work is 800,000 – 1,200,000 euros.

Amoako Boafo, „Laced Fingers”

Right next to him stands Ewa Juszkiewicz, currently the most expensive-selling contemporary Polish artist, whose works, such as "Gaj," raise questions about female identity in the history of painting. Her market position is undeniable – in 2022, the painting "Portrait of a Lady (After Louis Leopold Boilly)" reached a price of nearly 1.4 million euros at the Christie’s auction house in New York. The estimated value of the work "Gaj" is 500,000 – 800,000 euros.

Ewa Juszkiewicz, „Gaj”

Completing this great trio is Ibrahim Mahama, an absolutely unique figure whom "ArtReview" magazine recognized as the most significant artist in the world in 2025. On display at the Orangery is his work HYMNES FOR THE REBEL SOUL, which explores material as a carrier of memory and history, as well as the monumental installation Sika Asem, which enters into a dialogue with the work of Ghanaian-American artist Rita Mawueny Benissan. The estimated value of HYMNES FOR THE REBEL SOUL is €200,000–€300,000.

Na tle pracy Ibrahima Mahamy „HYMNES FOR THE REBEL SOUL” o wystawie opowiadają Natalia Bradbury oraz Philip Colbert.

The exhibition in Wilanów is a fascinating journey through different generations and sensibilities. Next to the works of legendary creators, such as Magdalena Abakanowicz, whose sculpture "Ptak II" emanates melancholic strength, or the avant-garde Constantin Brâncuși, the public can admire works by interesting contemporary artists. Among them are Pola Dwurnik with her narrative painting, Wojciech Ireneusz Sobczyk, Karolina Żądło, as well as international stars of pop-art and surrealism – Philip and Charlotte Colbert.

Philip Colbert

Particular attention is drawn to the bust "Erico" by Paweł Althamer – a moving tribute to a young Kenyan volunteer who lost his life during the protests in Nairobi in 2024, becoming a symbol of the fight for justice and lost potential.

Popiersie „Erico” autorstwa Pawła Althamera

The choice of these, as well as all other works for the auction, was not accidental – for 10 months the selection was supervised by a new, international Art Council composed of outstanding experts such as: Iwona Büchner-Grzesiak, Gilles Dyan, Ekow Eshun, Touria El Glaoui, Boris Kudlička, Omenaa Mensah, Hannah O’Leary, Marwan Zakhem, ensuring the highest substantive and market level of the event.

An innovative extension of the exhibition is the Art Cat ASANTE project – the first luxury Sunreef Yachts catamaran in the world that has become a full-fledged, floating art gallery. Omenaa Mensah, together with the Phenomenaa Gallery team, exercised personal curatorial supervision over the entirety of this unique concept, ensuring a precise selection of works that harmonize with the luxury design and the specificity of the marine environment. Thanks to this approach, the catamaran becomes not only a carrier of art but its integral part, creating a unique aesthetic experience available only in this unique location. From April 18, this unique vessel will glide across the waters, presenting selected works by artists such as Kristie Arias, Julius Kadente, or Raphael Meine, creating a unique space for dialogue between design and the idea of travel. In turn, in the Orangery itself, as part of the Phenomenaa Gallery selection, visitors have a unique opportunity to purchase works of contemporary African art, with as much as 50 percent of the proceeds from the sale going to the activities of the OmenaArt Foundation, supporting artists and cultural institutions. The event is complemented by a rich educational program "Heritage in our hands" addressed to youth and an extraordinary musical setting.

The jubilee character of this year's edition was emphasized by the presence of a world-class star – during the ceremonial vernissage, the special guest was Heather Small, the legendary voice of the band M People, who in her career has sold over 10 million records. Her energetic performance became a musical symbol of the five-year anniversary of the initiative, which successfully combines the world of great art with an extraordinary mission of bringing help to those in need. The presence of such an iconic artist gave the event a unique, international glow, perfectly harmonizing with the idea of building bridges between continents and cultures, which Omenaa Mensah has been consistently implementing for years. Heather Small's voice, known for anthems about strength and determination, became a perfect complement to the evening, during which the successes of foundations supporting those in need in Poland and Africa were celebrated. Importantly, the artist's involvement goes beyond the framework of the vernissage – Heather Small, like DJ Cuppy (Florence Ifeoluwa Otedola), who will be a guest of this year's TOP CHARITY Gala, due to their origin and passion, will become ambassadors of the musical space (studio and artistic residence) in the Sport&Art Complex being established in Ghana. Together, they will help create a place where African talents will gain professional conditions for development and creative expression.

“Performing during TOP CHARITY Art, on this magical evening full of creativity and charity, was a real honor for me. The opportunity to support the mission with your voice, build bridges, and bring help to young people who need it most is always a great privilege. Celebrating the five-year anniversary of this initiative in Warsaw together with Omenaa Mensah and Rafał Brzoska gave this event a special dimension – such moments give a sense of real progress” – says Heather Small.

Heather Small

At the TOP CHARITY Art vernissage, one could also hear compositions by Hanna Derej – a scholarship holder and co-creator of the Rafał Brzoska Foundation anthem, a rising star of Polish music, winner of the "SANKI 2025" award and double Grand Prix of the Ladies’ Jazz Festival 2025, whose work combines jazz with film and electronic music. Hanna Derej performed during the Fryderyk Festival Jazz Music Gala – one of the most important events on the Polish music scene, which every year gathers the most outstanding jazz artists.

As Rafał Brzoska, co-founder of TOP CHARITY, notes:

“What my beloved wife does completely escapes the patterns. Every year she proves to me that the bar can be set even higher, doing things that are more and more spectacular. I admire how efficiently she builds a global family, connecting the worlds of entrepreneurs, artists, and art curators – she does it with such class that we can only feel immense pride. What is the foundation of this success? Her passion for doing good, which allows her to move mountains, infects others. I am proud that such strong partners as UniCredit and The Company organization, associating the largest entrepreneurs in Poland, have joined our group. The fact that the leaders of domestic business support our activities in such numbers proves that Polish philanthropy is already fully mature and ready to set global standards. We act with business precision: through the Philanthropic Consortium, we have already implemented 196 socially important projects, and since the moment of establishment, we have donated over 30 million PLN to other foundations. This makes us a partner building lasting bridges of support in the country and in the world” - said Rafał Brzoska, founder of the Rafał Brzoska Foundation.

On the occasion of the 5th anniversary of TOP CHARITY, the OmenaArt Foundation launched the first patronage program of its kind in Poland, so extensive, for patrons of culture. It is modeled on the best Western European initiatives of this type, on whose boards Omenaa Mensah sits (including TATE Modern in London or MICAS in Malta). These programs professionalize the relationship between the donor and the institution:

Complementing these activities is a breakthrough step towards systemic changes. The day before the grand opening, the Culture Platform was inaugurated in the Senate of the Republic of Poland, being the result of the work of the Council for Public-Private Cooperation, which is a response to the demand of the community of patrons, collectors, and business organizations. This is a space where the voice of the private culture sector for the first time becomes an important element of the legislative process.

Thanks to this initiative, TOP CHARITY stops being just an artistic and charitable event – it becomes a real catalyst for changes in Polish law, building a modern model of cooperation between the state and private patrons. The jubilee, fifth edition of TOP CHARITY is proof that Polish philanthropy has matured to be a leader on a European scale, becoming a real inspiration in terms of how to act effectively and modernly. Over the last years, it has been proven that by combining the forces of the most dynamic entrepreneurs with the power of expression of the most outstanding artists, capital can be generated that realistically changes the lives of thousands of those in need.

The activity of the OmenaArt Foundation at the Museum of King Jan III's Palace in Wilanów is a multi-year commitment, which since 2023 has translated into a donation of over 1.5 million PLN for key revitalization and exhibition activities, including the revitalization of the North Gallery, which had been closed for over 60 years. As part of this year's installment of the project, funds from the TOP CHARITY budget and funds transferred by the Foundation will be allocated to the revitalization of the glass spaces of the North Garden Gallery, which includes both the development of project documentation and its full implementation. The aim of these works is to improve the aesthetics and functionality of the facility, as well as to protect its unique, historical character, which is part of the statutory mission of the OmenaArt Foundation regarding the democratization of art and caring for Polish national heritage. This year's support for Wilanów is implemented within the Philanthropic Consortium, which, alongside the Museum, also supports other prestigious institutions such as Zachęta – National Gallery of Art, the Grand Theatre – National Opera, or the Central Museum of Textiles in Łódź, building a lasting bridge between business, philanthropy, and high culture.

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