ART X Lagos opened its 11th edition on Friday at the Federal Palace on Victoria Island, Lagos, under the theme “A New Chapter, A New Decade.” The fair, which began in 2016, marked a decade of growth for the platform that showcases African art to local and international audiences.
Founder Tokini Peterside‑Schwebig said the fair has helped shift the mindset of Africans, especially Nigerians, toward collecting African art. She attributed this change to the first ten years of the event, which she described as a “world‑class platform in Lagos that serves local audiences while keeping an international outlook.”
ART X Lagos has attracted international collectors and institutions, expanding the city’s art season from five to seven satellite events and now to more than 15 events a year. Peterside‑Schwebig noted that the number of galleries in Lagos has grown dramatically since 2016 and that museums and other cultural institutions are emerging.
The fair’s funding comes largely from Nigerian corporations that have supported it for 11 years without interruption. The African Export‑Import Bank (Afreximbank) backs the Arts Across Borders programme, which brings artists from across the continent to Lagos for cultural exchange. Peterside‑Schwebig said relations with the state and federal governments are very positive, citing visits from Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment Dr Jumoke Oduwole and Governor Babajide Sanwo‑Olu, who has attended almost every year since taking office.
ART X Lagos also runs youth programmes, including a schools programme that drew almost 800 pupils from Lagos schools and communities on Friday. The fair also hosts a Master Class for young artists and a Development Forum where artists and curators meet global institutional voices.
<small>Source: The Sun Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
