ART X Lagos Marks 10 Years of Championing African Creativity
The annual art fair ART X Lagos Exhibition has reached a milestone: its 10th edition, signalling a decade of advancing African art and nurturing emerging creatives across the continent.
Hosted in Lagos, Nigeria, the latest installment, under the theme “Imagining Otherwise, No Matter the Tide”, saw a heightened emphasis on youth inclusion through programmes targeting marginalised communities.
Founded in 2016 by gallerist Tokini Peterside‑Schwebig, ART X has grown into West Africa’s foremost platform for contemporary African creativity. Since its launch, the event has welcomed over 700,000 visitors from some 170 countries and exhibited works by more than 500 African artists.
A notable feature of this year’s fair was the Schools Programme, developed in collaboration with Teach For Nigeria and other organisations, which brought over 800 children from under‑represented backgrounds into the art‑fair environment. They participated in workshops and a dedicated under‑13 art competition, reflecting the fair’s mission to position Africa’s youth at the centre of creative sectors.
Curatorial lead Bisi Silva (now deceased) and current curators including Lalib Sakal, Fikayo Adebajo, Jumoke Songwo, Larry Masha and Tega Okiti were lauded for steering the fair’s ascent to international benchmark standards.
Looking ahead, ART X Lagos plans to deepen its influence on tourism and cultural economics, aiming to replicate the model of major global art fairs, while keeping uniquely African voices integral to its vision.
“The world has seen large art fairs in London, Miami, Paris, Hong Kong…” Peterside‑Schwebig said. “But the world had never seen an art fair done the way Lagos would.”