SiGMA Europe Auction 2024 to feature top international artists

As the SiGMA World Tour wraps up with its final event in 2024, the foundation sets the stage for the SiGMA Europe’s B2B and B2C Awards night for another bidding war. Featuring talented artists and their generously donated artworks, the SiGMA Europe Awards will host charity auctions on November 11 and 12 to fund the foundation’s upcoming projects.

Staying true to its mission of living life with purpose, the SiGMA Foundation continues to show its dedication to supporting community initiatives. As a result of its efforts from 2023 to 2024, the foundation has raised a total of €749,400 through charity auctions held all over the globe through the SiGMA World Tour from Dubai, Cape Town, São Paulo, Manila, Kenya, Cyprus, Malta, and Budapest.

These past auctions have received significant attention and support from various companies and individuals, including Alea, Match Liquidity, Focus Gaming, Louis Hadfield (Haddzy), WatchGamesTV, EGT Digital, Pin-Up Partners, Superbet, WA Technology, Focus Gaming News, Payment Center, Quantum Gaming, SA Gaming, Gaming Soft, Payler, Velibor from Smart Expo, and Tiger Pay. Notable artworks that garnered attention include Sandra Kowalski’s “Unregulated Gaming,” purchased by Tiger Pay for €55,000 during SiGMA Europe 2023, and Tommy Zeagan’s pop art of John Lennon, acquired by Pin-Up Partner for €100,000 at the SiGMA Eurasia auction.

As SiGMA Europe gears up to celebrate its 10th anniversary in the industry this November, Malta Week is set to be bigger than ever. Featuring the ever-charismatic Rick Goddard to lead the stage and talented artists and energetic bidders to participate, this charity auction promises another intense bidding battle.

Anticipation is rising as the countdown to SiGMA Europe begins. With so many talented artists and stunning artworks, will this year’s auction break the records set by previous ones?

Auction Item #1: Tropical Serenade 

After being featured in SiGMA Magazine Issue 29, Italian-Filipino artist Jono Pisano will contribute his captivating artwork “Tropical Serenade” to the B2B Awards Night auction on 11 November. This artwork presents a serene scene—a small clearing surrounded by palm trees where Jono’s uncle serenades his future wife.

As a child, Jono frequently moved and needed to adapt to new environments. During these times of change, art became his refuge, providing him with a sense of stability and a means of expression. His passion for drawing inspired him to pursue a degree in art at the Parsons School of Design in New York, where he refined his skills and began his career in commercial art.

Now living and working in Manila, Jono’s art addresses themes of originality, authenticity, and presence. He sold his work “The Count” during the SiGMA Asia charity auction for €7,500 after the fierce bidding competition.

Auction Item #2: Atlas’ Quest: The Wheel turns for the Bold 

Lucienne Spiteri’s previous artwork Onwards and upwards was sold for €7,000 in SiGMA East Europe last September to EGT Digital. For the upcoming SiGMA Europe B2B Awards auction night, Lucienne will be donating her artwork “Atlas’ Quest: The Wheel Turns for the Bold”—an artwork inspired by the Titan God, Cosmic Guardian, and Conqueror of Heavens, Atlas. 

Lucienne portrayed Atlas with closed eyes, holding the Celestial Orb in his right hand. Behind him, the Wheel of Fortune and Love displays all the Zodiac signs, elements, houses, and ruling planets, symbolising fate, fortune, and the power of creativity.

Born in Malta in 1970, Lucienne is known for her vibrant, bold, and energetic painting and photography.

Auction Item #3: Insight

Renowned Armenian painter and textile designer Julieta Dashtoyan presents her sculpture artwork, “Insight” at the SiGMA Europe B2B Awards auction night. This eye-shaped piece captures the essence of perception and introspection, adorned with intricate faces to symbolise the diverse perspectives and depths of human understanding. 

Julieta specialised in Decorative Applied Art at Yerevan State University of Fine Arts in 2004. She began her career as a painter and textile designer in 2005 while teaching fine arts at the “Lantern” Learning Center. She is recognised for her vibrant colours and emotional depth, blending traditional Armenian motifs with contemporary techniques.

Auction Item #4: High Roller Rhythms

Ashvin Harrison, an internationally acclaimed Australian artist based on the Sunshine Coast, Australia, will donate his piece titled “High Roller Rhythms”—a piece he created exclusively for this charity event to showcase the thrilling world of online gaming. 

“High Roller Rhythms” is a large gramophone-inspired artwork hand-painted with coconut charcoal dust on cotton canvas. It features elements related to the gaming world and employs a technique called “Motusrealism”. Ashvin used acrylic colours for movement and emotion, oil paint for highlights, and gold paint for a mesmerising shine.

Ashvin’s works have been featured in numerous magazines, TV shows, and movies and are held in collections in over 50 countries. Since 2022, he has showcased his art globally, attracting thousands of fans and collectors through live painting events and his large social media following of nearly 2 million. 

Auction Item #5: Queen of Cards: A Fusion of Gambling and Tradition 

Fresh from his success last September at the SiGMA East Europe, British artist Derek Mason is back with his dynamic oil painting masterpiece, “Queen of Cards: A Fusion of Gambling and Tradition”. This artwork depicts a woman surrounded by playing cards, symbolising high-stakes gambling. The piece also includes a headpiece adorned with poker symbols and evokes the tension between risk and fortune with its rusty textures.

Derek has made Malta his home for the past 15 years and has been actively participating in the SiGMA Foundation auctions. His works “Ave it” (€4,000), “Show Time” (€2,000), “Deal with it” (€7,500), and “Too Anonymous” (€7,000) were highlights from last year’s Malta Week. His trio paintings, including “Yin and Yang Dragons”, “Unveiling Chaos”, and “Hand of Luck” were sold for €3,800 during the SiGMA Asia 2023 at the Conrad Hotel, Manila. Another one of his popular pieces is the “Race to the Finish Line”, which was sold for €20,000 during the SiGMA Eurasia charity auction.

He also contributed some of his pieces at the SiGMA Africa last March. His artwork “Golden Echoes” was sold to Gaming Soft for €5,000 and is now displayed in Dubai’s Burj Khalifa.

Derek’s masterpieces were also present during the SiGMA Americas last April. Focus Gaming News bought his masterpiece titled “The Golden Carnival” for a staggering €10,000 after an intense bidding battle that started at €500.

This June, during the SiGMA Asia 2024, Pin-Up Partners won another of his trio paintings that featured martial arts master Jackie Chan, iconic boxing legend Manny Pacquiao, and the mysterious koi carp that tells a powerful tale of transformation. The artwork was sold for €5,500. And just last September at the SiGMA East Europe, Derek’s “Rubik’s cube” became one of the highlights of the auction night for being sold at €20,000 to collector Louis Hadfield, also known as Haddzy.

Auction Item #6: Bronze Lady Statue

Renowned artist and designer Tommy Zegan brings his unique creation, the six-foot tall “Bronze Lady Statue”, to the SiGMA Europe B2B Awards auction after his back-to-back success from SiGMA East Europe and SiGMA Americas. This captivating sculpture, made of plaster and fibre, and is embellished with bronze and green tones.  

Tommy’s pop art of John Lennon fetched €100,000 at the SiGMA Foundation auction last year in Dubai, along with a donation of his Luciano Pavarotti’s artwork that sold for €35,000. At SiGMA Asia 2023, his painting of Manny Pacquiao sold for €1,800. In April, he returned for the SiGMA Americas auction with his “Spanish Dancer” painting, which Focus Gaming News won for €1,500.

Tommy is an American expat now residing in Mexico. He began his journey into contemporary art as early as fourth grade. His talent and dedication pushed him to international acclaim, earning him recognition as a world-renowned artist and designer. He’s also known as the creator of the iconic “Trump and his Magic Wand” statue, a famous depiction of former US President Donald Trump. 

Auction Item #7: The Royal Flush 

Nicole Pace was a gifted young artist who earned the prestigious President’s Award for Art during her childhood. She will contribute her latest artwork, “The Royal Flush,” to the SiGMA Europe B2C Awards auction on November 12.

This striking piece captures a winning poker hand’s dynamic energy and intricate beauty. Each card is brought to life with bold colours and fluid brushstrokes, telling a visual story that fuses the excitement of the game with the sophistication of abstract art. The layers of detail invite viewers to discover how the ordinary transforms into something extraordinary through different colours and forms. 

After her eight-year hiatus, Nicole has been captivating the art industry with her renewed passion for art and painting.

Auction Item #8: Ace Beyond Limits 

“Ace Beyond Limits” is an acrylic on canvas artwork donated by Veronika Bjurfjall. The painting aims to encourage people to consider holding the ace, to break free from tradition, and to welcome innovation to redefine the game. Veronika wanted to convey that there are no limits for those who have the ace, only new opportunities to explore. This masterpiece will be featured on 12 November during the SiGMA Europe B2C Awards night. 

Veronika is a contemporary artist and a fine arts graduate from Siberia, currently residing in Malta. She is well-known for her global travels and her turn to Malta’s iGaming and crypto industry for art inspiration.

Auction Item #9: Spicy Live Gaming 

Record breaker graphic artist and entrepreneur Sandra Kowalskii once again joins the scene of the SiGMA Foundation auction with her artwork “Spicy Live Gaming”—an imagery of a possessed live studio with all croupers falling in love instead of playing cards. 

She’s known for her 45-piece series “The Rebirth of Eve” and has gained recognition in the art industry for her innovative acrylic painting technique and mastery of lenticular “printing”. 

During last year’s Malta Week, Sandra set a record for auction proceeds with her artwork “Unregulated Gaming”, which sold for €55,000. She also contributed her piece “Bull’s Market” at SiGMA Asia 2023, selling it for €4,000. Last September, she sold her “Strip Poker Night Dream” artwork for €40,000 to WatchGamesTV during SiGMA East Europe.

Sandra has exhibited her work in prestigious locations worldwide and has spoken at the IFCC art festival in Croatia. Esteemed collectors “have recognised her” talent and dedication, with her works finding their way into the collections of an Italian count and a Cypriot philanthropist from Malta Week Auction in 2022. 

Auction Item #10: The Blue-eyed Horse 

Anna Bukhareva, a Miami-based artist known for her expressive oil and watercolour paintings, will donate her captivating work “The Blue-eyed Horse” at the SiGMA Europe B2C Awards auction. This piece seamlessly blends the timeless elegance of old masters’ traditions with a contemporary twist, creating a thought-provoking and visually stunning artwork. 

Her artwork “The Winner Takes It All” was sold for €10,500 from last year’s SiGMA Europe. Match Liquidity also took home her evocative oil painting “Future” for €2,000 last September in SiGMA East Europe in Budapest.

Anna’s art explores human nature, drawing from her background in sociology and psychotherapy. She holds a Master’s degree in Visual Development and has showcased her work internationally at events like the 2023 Florence Biennale and the 2024 Zona Maco art fair. Her works have found their way into private collections and exhibits worldwide, including the United States, Moscow, Malta, Latvia, Czech Republic, France, and Italy.

Auction Item #11: Fortuna and the Golden Bull (A lifetime of prosperity)

EDO, a passionate Maltese artist based in Cyprus, will add his artwork “Fortuna and the Golden Bull” to the list of masterpieces to be auctioned for the SiGMA Europe B2C Award auction. 

His artwork features the Goddess Fortuna nurturing the gaming market by breastfeeding the golden bull. In this masterpiece, EDO presents a combination made in heaven: a goddess representing prosperity, fortune and foresight and a bull that signifies resilience and power. 

At SiGMA Africa in Cape Town, EDO’s “African Gaming Cats” artwork captivated the crowd and was sold to SA Gaming for €4,500 following a competitive bidding war. Meanwhile, at this year’s SiGMA Asia, Pin-Up acquired his intriguing piece called “The Wonderful Eye” for €10,000. In September, during SiGMA East Europe, EDO successfully sold his artwork “The Art of Gaming” to Focus Gaming for €6,500. 

Auction Item #12: Signed photo of Messi being dressed by the Emir of Qatar 

The SiGMA Europe B2C Awards auction night will feature a memento from one of World Cup history’s most iconic and controversial moments. It’s a signed photo of Messi being dressed by the Emir of Qatar in one of the most prestigious Arab clothing pieces during the World Cup in Qatar 2022. 

The moment captured in the photo is said to have caused an uproar in Argentina and Messi’s sponsors. However, it remains one of the reasons why the award ceremony remained unforgotten throughout the years. 

Future projects and initiatives 

The SiGMA Foundation is dedicated to supporting community initiatives. The proceeds from upcoming auctions will be allocated for projects planned for 2025, for which the foundation has pledged funds for several key initiatives.

One significant project is the Peru Hospital Extension, for which the foundation has committed €80,000 of the total €150,000 needed to enhance the hospital’s facilities. This expansion aims to improve the hospital’s capacity to serve impoverished communities by adding new annexes.

Another major initiative is the MMA Sports Centre in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The SiGMA Foundation will contribute €100,000 towards the €290,000 required to provide MMA training and education to young adults from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Lastly, the foundation is backing the Batiawan Community Centre in Zambales, Philippines, with €80,000 of the €120,000 necessary to establish a multi-purpose centre that will offer the local community educational, cultural, and social services.

SiGMA Europe: The grand finale

Get ready for a gaming extravaganza in Malta! SiGMA Europe, the Mother of all Conferences, is closing out the SiGMA World Tour 2024 with a spectacular finale. Join us from 11-14 November for unforgettable experiences, networking opportunities, and the latest industry trends. This is an event not to be missed!