Biography
Consultant Hannah O'Leary is one of the world's leading market authorities on Modern & Contemporary African Art. She first joined Sotheby's in 2005, working in the Dublin and Melbourne offices. In 2006, she joined Bonhams in London, where she helped pioneer the first international auctions of South African Art and Modern & Contemporary African Art, becoming Head of Department in 2010.
Building on a decade of record-breaking sales in both categories, she returned to Sotheby's in 2016 to lead the growth of this rapidly expanding market. Under her direction, Sotheby's was consistently the global market leader in Modern & Contemporary African Art, achieving more than 200 world record prices for artists including Marlene Dumas, Julie Mehretu, Lisa Brice, Njideka Akunyili Crosby, Michael Armitage, and William Kentridge.
In 2026, she transitioned to a consultancy role, based in London and working closely with Sotheby's modern and contemporary sales teams worldwide.
Hannah works closely with collectors and institutions across the globe, advising on acquisitions, collection development, museum loans, and philanthropic initiatives. She has raised millions of pounds for organisations supporting African artists, including the Centre for Contemporary Art (CCA), Lagos; Norval Foundation, Cape Town; the International Studio & Curatorial Program (ISCP), New York; and Brandywine Workshop and Archives (BWA), Philadelphia.
A recognised authority in the field, she has contributed to numerous publications and lectured at major institutions including the Royal Academy, Haus der Kunst, Kunsthaus Graz, Tel Aviv Museum of Art, Pérez Art Museum Miami, and the Venice Biennale. She is a Council Member of the Royal African Society and a Trustee of the Norval Foundation.
Hannah holds a Master's degree in History of Art with Cultural Anthropology from the University of Glasgow.
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