Art X Lagos returns for the 9th edition of its art fair this November

From October 31st to November 3rd, 2024, the 9th edition of Art X Lagos, the premier international art fair in West Africa, will return at The Federal Palace, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Oct 29, 2024

ART X Lagos, the premier international art fair in West Africa, will return for the 9th edition of its highly anticipated annual art fair from October 31st to November 3rd, 2024 at The Federal Palace, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Launched in 2016 as a dynamic platform created to showcase and support contemporary culture from Africa and its diaspora, ART X Lagos says the fair has emerged as a global destination, drawing artists and galleries from over 70 countries, with attendees and participants from 170 nations worldwide, thus significantly expanding Lagos' global cultural positioning.

According to the announcement, this year’s theme will explore, “Promised Lands,” – places, real and imagined, that offer hope and a vision of greater freedoms—prompting a critical examination of where Africa and its diaspora aspire to go. The fair will continue its commitment to highlighting African art, culture, and community, while fostering critical conversations on the social and political transformations shaping the continent.

Speaking about this year’s edition, Tokini Peterside-Schwebig, Founder of ART X Lagos, shared: “We are thrilled to present an exceptional lineup of artists, exhibitions and galleries for our ninth edition, representing the diverse and dynamic voices emerging from all corners of Africa and the diaspora. ‘Promised Lands’ is a theme that resonates deeply with our collective journey—reflecting on where we are and envisioning where we aspire to be. It was crucial for us to create a platform that not only anchors the African art movement but also drives meaningful conversations about the social, political, and cultural landscapes of our continent. We remain dedicated to creating an absolutely cannot-miss experience for our artists, cultural partners, gallerists, collectors and visitors from Africa, and around the world.”

This year’s art fair will feature 10 specially curated galleries—Afriart Gallery (Uganda), Alexis Gallery (Nigeria), Galerie MAM (Cameroon), Gallery 1957 (Ghana), Affinity Art Gallery (Nigeria), Kanbi Projects (UK), kó (Nigeria), Nike Art Gallery (Nigeria), ODA Art Gallery (Nigeria) and Tiwani Contemporary (UK)—showcasing a diverse mix of emerging and established artists from across Africa and its diaspora. The galleries will present a cross-section of artists making unique contributions to the visual arts ecosystem, reinforcing ART X Lagos’ mission to promote artistic excellence and cross-cultural collaboration.

It will also feature ART X Talks—a lively panel discussion series; ART X Cinema—a showcase of 13 selected films by African and diaspora filmmakers; ART X Live!—a live music experience connecting the dots between Nigeria’s past, present, and future sounds—curated by Lanre Masha and Ayo Lawson.

Other highlights include Access ART X Prize Winners’ Exhibitions—solo exhibitions by the 2023 ART X Prize winners; Art Across Borders: Where to Go—a collaboration with Afreximbank curated by Jumoke Sanwo; The Schools’ Programme—an initiative that ensures that art becomes a vehicle for education and empowerment for young Africans; The Development Forum—a conversation that brings together emerging artists and art professionals; Pan-African Library—a collection of over 200 books, magazines, and archival materials focused on Pan-Africanism, colonial history, modernism, and African diasporic studies; Speakers’ Corner: The Crossroads—a participatory experience curated by Papa Omotayo in collaboration with Haily Grenet, Fikayo Adebajo, and Dike Anthony; Mark-Makers: Unsung Pioneers—a special exhibition which honours overlooked Nigerians who broke boundaries and advocated for their people; Restless Cities: From Lagos to the World—a solo exhibition by Lagos-born, New York-based photographer, filmmaker, and creative director Andrew Dosunmu (which is his first-ever solo exhibition in Africa); Social Fabrics, Sustainable Threads: Marcellina Akpojotor—a project that celebrates the transformative work of Nigerian artist Marcellina Akpojotor, whose use of discarded textiles; and Breaking Barriers by Williams Chechet—an exhibition by Nigerian pop artist and cultural commentator Williams Chechet.