“Art Meets Philanthropy: 10% of the sale proceeds from the iconic art piece sale go towards benefitting the Drops of Life campaign by Africarare and Innovation: Africa, providing clean water to a village of thousands of Africans“

In an extraordinary blend of art, philanthropy, and digital innovation, the iconic art piece, "BLUE EYES SAPPHIRUS FALCO COLUMBARIUS" has been sold for a staggering R8.2 million at Art Basel in Switzerland. The artwork, a collaboration between globally acclaimed South African-born Conor Mccreedy and renowned jewellery designer Suzanne Syz, is making waves not just for its unique design but for its significant philanthropic impact and its pioneering use of NFT technology.

The artwork features a captivating original blue oil painting by Mccreedy, depicting a falcon, the fastest flying bird on earth. The eye of the falcon is adorned with a custom-made sapphire brooch designed by Syz, boasting around 170 carats in total. This extraordinary piece marked a new era in the world of art and design, becoming one of the most valuable pieces in the NetJets Collector’s Lounge during Art Basel.

The sale of the artwork also included its soulbound NFT, a digital asset called ‘Drops of Life’ that represents real-world objects like artwork. This innovative use of NFT technology is a profound statement on how digital assets can be used for good, extending the impact of art beyond aesthetics and into the realm of social impact.

A generous 10% of the sale proceeds, are being donated to the Drops of Life Campaign, a joint initiative by Africarare and Innovation: Africa. This campaign is dedicated to providing clean drinking water to communities in Africa, thus saving countless lives. Since 2008, Innovation: Africa has delivered access to clean water and electricity to over 4 million Africans in nearly 1000 villages across the continent. This partnership is a concrete example of how technology innovation can change the lives of millions of Africans.

The Drops of Life Campaign is a groundbreaking initiative that leverages the power of technology and philanthropy to address water scarcity in Africa. The funds from the sale of “BLUE EYES SAPPHIRUS FALCO COLUMBARIUS” will directly contribute to providing clean drinking water to a village in Africa, impacting the lives of approximately 3,000 individuals.

About the Artists:

Conor Mccreedy, known for his signature blue, is a world-renowned South African- born artist whose work has captivated audiences globally. Suzanne Syz, a famed jewellery designer, is celebrated for her innovative designs, with her work included in the collection of the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris.

About the Campaign:

The Drops of Life Campaign is an initiative by Africarare and Innovation: Africa, aimed at providing clean drinking water to communities in Africa. The campaign is committed to transforming lives and creating sustainable solutions for water scarcity in the region. By purchasing a soulbound NFT, art collectors can contribute to this cause, demonstrating the potential of NFTs to drive social impact

To participate, sign up at: africarare.io/innovation-africa

Read the full Press Release

“We need to rediscover how to be sustainable. To move from being apart from nature to being a part of nature once again.“

For Mccreedy, inherent to the life of an artist is a desire to contribute to the greater conversation – to the greater good. As such, his philanthropic initiatives are a big part of what makes him tick.

A strong focus of his philanthropy is through his foundation (PAW) Protecting African Wildlife, which Mccreedy began in 2016. Initially, this organization focused solely on the African Lion in efforts to ultimately gain protection status for it. It is now starting to expand to include all African wildlife that needs protection and conservation. Some of his foundation's key partners are renowned organisations like the EWT (Endangered Wildlife Trust) and the (Captured in Africa Foundation).

The foundation funds programs from regions spanning the Kruger National Park, Mozambique to The Northern Tuli block in Botswana. Botswana remains a treasured place for Mccreedy, as he has been going to this conservation region with his family and friend since the tender age of eight. This is why his philanthropic interests remain close to his heart in such regions. Mcreedy is always trying to help and support conservation initiatives and human development around parts of Africa which are close to his heart.

The EWT (Endangered Wildlife Trust) is operating in the Kruger National Park. The Greater Kruger area has suffered an increase in the spate of intentional wildlife poisoning. In recent years more than 400 vultures and 50 other animals including lions and elephants, have been affected. Intervention at these incidents have been curtailed by lack of knowledge and capacity to effectively manage and decontaminate scenes to prevent further poisoning. The EWT’s Poisoning Training & Prevention team assists rangers with the training and tools required to identify the substances and collect valuable evidence during a poisoning event; as well as contain the scene and prevent additional wildlife deaths. This team has been involved in training more than 350 rangers and other conservation staff in the Greater Kruger National Park since mid-May 2020. The training is part of a wider strategy to reduce the impact of wildlife poisoning in the area which has caused significant losses to a range of key wildlife species, including vultures and carnivores. Training is conducted in such a way that operational capacity in terms of anti-poaching operations is not impeded and all relevant COVID-19 protocols are observed throughout. In addition to the training, EWT also works with SANParks and other stakeholders on the drafting and implementation of an integrated strategy to address this emerging threat to the region’s wildlife to ensure viable populations of the above species and other wildlife affected in perpetuity.

Another focus of philanthropy for Mccreedy is through his donation of various works for auction, for an array of charitable causes. His most recent initiative was the completion of a “live” painting on Instagram during the Covid-19 lockdown. All proceeds from the auction of this painting went to support South Africa’s Pick-n-Pay ”Feed the Nation” trust, set up by the Ackerman family. In the end, the painting was sold to HSH Princess Charlene of Monaco and her charitable foundation, The Princess Charlene Foundation. Please contact the studio or his foundation should you wish to engage the artist in this manner.

Please visit: pawafrica.org or protectingafricanlions.org for further details.

Please contact the studio, should you wish to engage the artist in this manner.