9th ART X Lagos 2024 Fair Begins, Explores ‘Promised Lands’

The 9th edition of West Africa’s leading international art fair, ART X Lagos 2024, has begun with the aim to explore paths for artists, curators and enthusiasts.

The art fair commenced in Lagos from Thursday, October 31 to Sunday, November 3, 2024.

The ART X Lagos, which has firmly established itself as the leading hub for African and diaspora creatives, has showcased artists from over 70 countries since its inception in 2016.

Speaking with journalists at the ongoing ART X 2024 exhibition in Lagos, the founder of ART X Lagos, Tokini Peterside-Schwebig, disclosed that this year, the fair has continued with its commitment to highlighting African art, culture, and community while fostering critical conversations on the social and political transformations shaping the continent of Africa.

She alluded that against a backdrop of challenges being experienced in Nigeria, with political and socio-economic difficulties across Africa and further afield, 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.

According to her, “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.”

She, however, stressed that with a diverse selection of curated galleries, thought-provoking exhibitions and special projects, dynamic live performances, and insightful discussions, the fair has continued to push boundaries and foster cross-cultural dialogue.

The ongoing ART X Lagos 2024 features 10 specially curated galleries from cities like Lagos, Harare, Accra, and London, that showcases a diverse mix of emerging and established artists from across Africa and its diaspora.

The galleries 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. The 2024 galleries include: 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).

Part of the Art X Lagos 2024 includes meaningful engagements such as The Crossroads that reflect on Nigeria’s current challenges, creating a collective tapestry of shared voices and hopes. Curated by Papa Omotayo in collaboration with Haily Grenet, Fikayo Adebajo, and Dike Anthony, Andrew Dosunmu’s Lagos To the World, The Mark-Makers: Unsung Pioneers curated by Missla Libsekal, Fikayo Adebajo and Haily Grenet and ART X Live! Musical performance curated by Lanre Masha and Ayo Lawson, among others.

On her part, ART X Lagos 2024 Curator, Jumoke Sanwo, said: “We are running the pprogrammes simply because we believe that we also need to play a role as a catalyst for our ecosystem and we have worked very hard to contribute to placing Nigeria as a global capital on the art map, but we must also build at home and contribute our quota towards strengthening our local ecosystem)”

While she buttressed a significant lack of mentorship for artists, ART X Lagos recognises and grants the opportunities to learn from experienced practitioners on the continent through shared conversations that can be beneficial, especially for emerging artists who face various challenges.