WELL ART: Omenaa Mensah sums up TOP CHARITY 2025: "We messed up because we did it differently"

Aleksandra Nagel – Well.pl: Let's go back to the beginning for a moment. When you think about the first edition of TOP CHARITY and this year's, what path do you see?

Omenaa Mensay, initiator of the TOP CHARITY philanthropic event: Oh my... It started, as it usually does, with dreams and then numerous phone calls. We had to explain a lot, because not everyone wanted to cooperate with us. We worked intensively with the team, making the first arrangements, negotiations and facing challenges. It was a difficult time. The COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian attack on Ukraine were catalysts for changes in our environment. Business united, and a great idea was born in our heads. We joined forces and worked hard, which resulted in the creation of the first edition, which gave hope for the next ones. Today, people come to us, ask questions and want to give their works, because they know that it is a great platform for promotion on international markets. A large part of our guests are business representatives from France, Italy, the Czech Republic, Romania, as well as from the United States, Great Britain and Africa.

Was it difficult because you were Omena – a “TV personality”?

Yes, that's why. Many people didn't understand "what is this woman from show business doing with art"? Why does she need an auction, top artists, why is she pushing herself here? And I knew that this is my world. My passion. That's why I am where I am. I initiated the TOP CHARITY event, which won an international award, which helps people in need in Poland and beyond.

What was your main goal?

I dreamed of uniting businesses in a good cause. I wanted to inspire them to the idea of ​​systemic help for the good of society. Social responsibility for people who were less fortunate and supporting talented youth is our local responsibility and investment. Thanks to this, we cultivate business potential.

I also wanted our donors to have access to selected art. I told myself then: "No. I want quality." And so it happened. I called, I talked. These conversations were sometimes not easy, especially with artists - they are sensitive and exceptional people. But we made it. The first auction - and a record. Over 8 million zlotys. On a Polish scale - this is something unheard of.

What has changed at TOP CHARITY since then?

Today, the situation is completely different. We have established a professional Artistic Council, which helps in selecting works and works on it for 12 months. The Council consists of experienced people, such as: Iwona Buchner-Grzesiak, president of the Polswiss Art Auction House, Isabel de Vasconcellos, curator from London, Kama Zboralska, patron of contemporary art and initiator of the nationwide "Kompas Sztuki" and "Kompas Młodyj Sztuki", as well as Boris Kudlička - a Slovak scenographer, architect and designer.

We are very selective when choosing works and guests. We have established the Philanthropic Consortium, a grant project through which we support foundations in Poland and abroad. We cooperate with, among others, the Obama Foundation, Rafa Nadal Foundation and Andrea Bocelli Foundation. For us, quality is an expression of respect at every stage of our work. One thing has remained unchanged - my attitude to art.

"We've shaken up the Polish art market"

What is your attitude towards art?

Art is something individual. It should be liked, I'm cutting off all this academic tone. It should inspire. It should be close to people. Because at the end of the day this work will go to someone's home. And it should make them happy, calm them down, maybe even heal them. Art does not exist in a vacuum. And I don't want to treat it that way. That's my priority.

When I look at the TOP CHARITY project, I have the impression that you and Rafał Brzoska have stirred up some trouble on the Polish art market…

Of course we messed up. We went outside the box. We did it differently. We had the means, yes – but in art you also have to have passion and knowledge. That's why I did two courses at Sotheby's Institute of Art. I was accepted to the African Acquisition Committee at Tate Modern. It's no coincidence. I focused on quality, professionalism and a completely new approach to education. Today I don't have to explain anything to anyone, to prove anything to anyone.

Are you for art? Is art for you?

It is an organism - symbiosis.

I ask because this time I want to stir things up a bit and ask about so-called "artwashing". Today, many people, many institutions, businesses are eager to "cuddle up" with art to strengthen their image. Do you see any threat in this?

The most important thing is that art is talked about. That it is something you want to live with. That it becomes part of the social dialogue. The art market in Poland has changed over the last 20, 30 years. In my opinion, the elitism of art was a mistake, the more of it in our business activities, initiatives, everyday life, the better. What we do is education, teaching sensitivity, opening people to art, because it can do really good things with people.

TOP CHARITY 2025 - summary of one of the most important charity and collection events in Poland

Another record was broken at TOP CHARITY 2025 ! This year, Omenaa Mensah and Rafał Brzoska raised over PLN 60 million, while last year PLN 48 million was raised. The record-breaking work of art was by Pablo Atchugarry, sold for EUR 720,000 (approximately PLN 3,240,000).

The auction also includes works by artists such as: Bożena Biskupska, Monika Falkus, Lary Amponsah, Yves Cheref, Igor Dobrowolski, Tadeusz Łodzian (deceased), Tadeusz Kantor (deceased), Prof. Ablade Glover, Jeff Koons, Yao Owusu, Saad Qureshi, Matthew Attard (representative of the Malta Biennale), Rita Mawuese Benison and Maciej Kasperski. Together they have created an exceptional collection of works of international and historical significance.

The organizers try to take care of every detail. Every year, before the gala, they open a unique pre-auction exhibition in the Orangery of the Wilanów Palace, which not only presents works by outstanding artists, but also makes art more accessible - admission is free, and the exhibition is accompanied by the educational project "Heritage in our hands". The exhibition will last until June 24, 2025.

This approach to art and philanthropy is yet another proof that the initiative is a real Game Changer on the European and even global philanthropy market.

Dr. Jill Biden, Omenaa Mensah and Jolanta Kwaśniewska / press materials