SiGMA Italia Awards Charity Auction Raises €34,500 for Good Causes

Contemporary art, football history and an exclusive lunch with Bernie Ecclestone took centre stage at the SiGMA Italia Awards 2026 charity auction, held in Rome on 05 November. At the historic Corsie Sistine di Santo Spirito in Sassia, seven lots attracted winning bids totalling €34,500, supporting the philanthropic work of SiGMA Foundation.

The auction brought together artists, collectors and representatives of the gaming industry around a selection ranging from contemporary paintings to luxury collectable publications. The evening’s highest-value lot was The Official F1 75 Opus Legacy Edition, which sold for €20,000 and included an unusual experience: a private lunch with former Formula 1 chief Bernie Ecclestone.

The event followed the 03 November SiGMA Awards charity auction, which generated €94,000 in winning bids. Both took place during SiGMA World’s Rome event week, contributing to the Foundation’s international charitable initiatives.

A foundation for change

The presentation of the artworks introduced a technological element to the traditional exhibition of auction lots. During the reception, guests could view holographic displays inside glass cases, bringing art, innovation and charitable giving together in an unusual setting.

The collection featured works by artists including Dzanar, Emanuele Attadia, Harutyun Hakobyan, Ivo Cotani and Claudia Farrace, alongside two luxury collectable books offered by Opus, celebrating Formula 1 and Inter Milan respectively.

SiGMA Foundation supports international initiatives focused on education, healthcare and community development. Its projects include the construction of educational facilities, medical assistance and programmes supporting underserved communities.

The auction offered those attending the SiGMA Italia Awards an opportunity to contribute directly to these efforts, turning their interest in distinctive artworks and experiences into financial support for the Foundation’s projects.

The power of community

One of the evening’s most memorable moments came with the presentation of the collectable volumes from Opus, a publishing house specialising in limited-edition luxury books celebrating achievements across sport, music and entertainment.

Speaking during an interview at the event, an Opus representative explained that the company has produced 85 projects over approximately 20 years, consistently seeking to connect its publications with charitable causes.

“We’ve always looked to work hand in glove with a charitable cause, a worthy cause,” he said, describing the company’s appreciation for its partnership with SiGMA Foundation.

Particular attention was given to the experience accompanying the Formula 1 volume. According to the Opus representative, the intention was to create something that could not simply be purchased through conventional channels, offering an encounter that would remain memorable long after the evening.

He also expressed the hope that such experiences might encourage participants to return and support SiGMA Foundation’s charitable work in the future.

The auction also offered winning bidders additional value through advertising credits associated with their successful bids.

Auction 1: Sold for €2,000 to Top Gaming Ltd

Dzanar reinterprets the aesthetics of classical sculpture through a contemporary visual language that brings the past into dialogue with the present. In All Pain, No Gain, the face of a regal-looking figure is transformed through tattoos, graphic details and references to modern visual culture.

The artwork explores ambition, resilience and the relationship between sacrifice and success. The contrast between ancient sculptural influences and contemporary elements turns an apparently traditional figure into an image of both strength and vulnerability.

The artwork sold for €2,000.

Auction 2: Sold for €2,300 to Atlas s.r.l.

Ode a Civitavecchia by Emanuele Attadia

In Ode a Civitavecchia, Emanuele Attadia pays tribute to the coastal town in Italy’s Lazio region, reflecting its history and relationship with the surrounding landscape.

The artwork brings the tranquillity of the sea into dialogue with historical contrasts and the changing character of the territory. The coastal setting becomes a way of exploring place through memory, atmosphere and the connection between the town and the Italian coastline.

The painting sold for €2,300.

Auction 3: Sold for €2,500 to Betsson Group

Untitled by Harutyun Hakobyan

Armenian artist Harutyun Hakobyan combines classical sculptural references with a contemporary painting style characterised by expressive colours and abstract forms.

In Untitled, a sculptural-looking figure forms part of a composition featuring contrasting colours and figurative elements. Traditional artistic influences meet a modern sensibility, creating a work that moves between representation and abstraction.

The artwork achieved a winning bid of €2,500.

Auction 4: Sold for €2,300 to Hub Affiliations

Dopo l’Ultima Cena (After the Last Supper) by Ivo Cotani

Ivo Cotani offers a playful contemporary reinterpretation of one of the most recognisable themes in Western art.

In Dopo l’Ultima Cena, animal figures and everyday details populate a colourful scene filled with cultural references and unexpected situations. The artist combines humour with symbolic elements, inviting viewers to reconsider a familiar subject from a different perspective.

The artwork sold for €2,300.

Auction 5: Sold for €2,000 to Slot Plus s.r.l.

Sensual Bet by Claudia Farrace

Casino culture provides the inspiration for Sensual Bet, an artwork by Claudia Farrace exploring the relationship between elegance, seduction and the atmosphere of gaming.

The composition draws on casino imagery through a female figure, decorative details and references to playing cards. Its colours and arrangement heighten the contrast between glamour and anticipation, presenting an atmospheric interpretation of the gaming environment.

The final selling price was €2,000.

Auction 6: Sold for €3,400 to Hub Affiliations

Inter The Opus Midi Edition by Opus

The history of Inter Milan took centre stage in one of the two lots offered by Opus.

Inter The Opus Midi Edition is a collectable publication created in collaboration with FC Internazionale Milano. Across more than 600 pages, the book explores defining moments in the club’s history through photography, archival material and stories that have shaped the Nerazzurri identity.

The project also includes a collection of San Siro portraits created using the historic wet-plate photographic process. A camera dating back approximately 174 years was used to capture locations and scenes associated with Inter’s history, offering an unusual perspective on the club’s heritage.

The lot sold for €3,400.

Auction 7: Sold for €20,000 to Wicked Games

The Official F1 75 Opus Legacy Edition & Exclusive Lunch Experience by Opus

The evening’s highest-value lot combined a luxury collectable publication with an exclusive encounter with one of the most influential figures in Formula 1 history.

The Official F1 75 Opus Legacy Edition is a limited-edition book weighing approximately 32 kilograms and containing more than 700 pages, created to celebrate Formula 1’s 75-year history. It features rare photography, archival material, personal accounts and contributions from some of the championship’s most recognisable figures, including Michael Schumacher, Sebastian Vettel, Niki Lauda and Stirling Moss.

The publication explores the development of Formula 1 through its greatest rivalries, sporting achievements and technological innovations.

Accompanying the book was a private lunch with Bernie Ecclestone for up to four guests, with the date and location to be agreed with Opus. The experience offers the winning bidder an opportunity to meet the former Formula 1 chief and hear his recollections of the sport, including his professional relationship with Enzo Ferrari.

During the on-stage presentation, the auctioneer highlighted the exceptional nature of the encounter. Following a series of bids, the lot sold for €20,000, making it the highest-value individual lot in the 05 November auction.

The winning bid accounted for more than half the combined value of the seven lots, highlighting the appeal of combining a rare collectable with an experience that would be difficult to arrange independently.