27 OCTOBER 2026

Art Auction East Africa Expands Its Reach for 14th Annual Sale

SHALOM ESENE ยท 4 MINS READ
Art Auction East Africa Expands Its Reach for 14th Annual Sale
27 OCTOBER 2026

Art Auction East Africa Expands Its Reach for 14th Annual Sale

SHALOM ESENE ยท 4 MINS READ
Art Auction East Africa Expands Its Reach for 14th Annual Sale
27 OCTOBER 2026

Art Auction East Africa Expands Its Reach for 14th Annual Sale

SHALOM ESENE ยท 4 MINS READ
Art Auction East Africa Expands Its Reach for 14th Annual Sale
Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

The Art Report Africa Guide to Lagos Art Week Alternatives

@@SLUG@@

the-art-report-africa-guide-to-lagos-art-week-alternatives

@@CATEGORY@@

Editorials

@@DESCRIPTION@@

From theatre and dance to literary gatherings, experimental architecture and artistsโ€™ studios, the Art Report Africa team shares what they would make time for.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

6 Mins Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Edward Saidi Tingatinga, Untitled (Landscape with Lion and Bird), 1971. Enamel on board. 58.5 x 58.5 cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa.

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

Art Auction East Africa Achieves 90% Sell-Through, with More Than Half of Works Exceeding Estimates

@@SLUG@@

art-auction-east-africa-achieves-90-sell-through-with-more-than-half-of-works-exceeding-estimates

@@CATEGORY@@

Art News

@@DESCRIPTION@@

The Nairobi-based auction generated KES 46.3 million, with works by Edward Saidi Tingatinga and Peterson Kamwathi among those selling above their estimates.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

4 Mins Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

Art Auction East Africa Expands Its Reach for 14th Annual Sale

@@SLUG@@

art-auction-east-africa-expands-its-reach-for-14th-annual-sale

@@CATEGORY@@

Art News

@@DESCRIPTION@@

The Nairobi-based auction will feature 68 modern and contemporary works on 28 October by artists from nine countries, including Angola, Mozambique and Nigeria.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

4 Mins Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Installation view, Mรฉmoire Matรฉrielle, 193 Gallery, Paris, 2026, showing works by Joana Choumali and Gaรซlle Choisne. Photo: Nicolas Brasseur. Courtesy of 193 Gallery.

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

โ€œMรฉmoire Matรฉrielleโ€: Can Materials Hold Memory?

@@SLUG@@

โ€œmรฉmoire-matรฉrielleโ€-can-materials-hold-memory

@@CATEGORY@@

Editorials

@@DESCRIPTION@@

Mรฉmoire Matรฉrielleโ€: Can Materials Hold Memory? The exhibition at 193 Gallery in Paris rethinks memory as a material process through works that explore preservation, repair, transmission and colonial afterlives.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

8 Mins Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Abuja International Photo Festival, 2025. Photo: Abuja International Photo Festival. Courtesy Osaze Efe.

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

Abuja International Photo Festival 2026: Osaze Efe Wants You to Look Beyond the Photographs

@@SLUG@@

abuja-international-photo-festival-2026-osaze-efe-wants-you-to-look-beyond-the-photographs

@@CATEGORY@@

Editorials

@@DESCRIPTION@@

As the festival marks its 10th edition, its founder and creative director reflects on a decade of Nigerian photography and the questions raised by artificial intelligence.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

5 Mins Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Installation view, AKAA 2026, Le Carreau du Temple, Paris. Photo: ยฉ Lionel Belluteau / @unoeilquitraine.

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

Art Basel Paris Closed Early; AKAA Ended Yesterday, Lagos Is Next

@@SLUG@@

art-basel-paris-closed-early-akaa-ended-yesterday-lagos-is-next

@@CATEGORY@@

Art News

@@DESCRIPTION@@

Art Basel Paris closed two days early while AKAA ended yesterday. ART X Lagos and the Lagos Biennial open next.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

3 Mins Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Installation view of ARTBASEโ€™s presentation of Aliou Diack, AKAA 2026, Le Carreau du Temple, Paris. Courtesy ARTBASE.

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

Four Standout Booths at AKAA

@@SLUG@@

four-standout-booths-at-akaa

@@CATEGORY@@

Art News

@@DESCRIPTION@@

Four standout gallery presentations at AKAA 2026, from Ernest Breleurโ€™s collages of the human body to Maya Inรจs Touamโ€™s richly composed still lifes.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

8 Mins Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Sitor Senghor, artistic director of AKAA. ยฉ Tous droits rรฉservรฉs. Courtesy of AKAA.

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

โ€œDrawing Is Not a Minor Art Formโ€: Sitor Senghor on AKAA 2026

@@SLUG@@

โ€œdrawing-is-not-a-minor-art-formโ€-sitor-senghor-on-akaa-2026

@@CATEGORY@@

In Conversation

@@DESCRIPTION@@

The fairโ€™s artistic director on pairing photography with works on paper, how Paris differs from London, and why an artistโ€™s first gesture on paper matters.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

8 Mins Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

A visitor in the Design + Innovation Exhibition at the National Theatre, Lagos, during Design Week Lagos 2026. Photo: Chibuzo Emmanuel for Art Report Africa.

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

On Day 2 of Design Week Lagos, Africaโ€™s Relationship with the World Came into Sharp Focus

@@SLUG@@

on-day-2-of-design-week-lagos-africaโ€™s-relationship-with-the-world-came-into-sharp-focus

@@CATEGORY@@

Art News

@@DESCRIPTION@@

At Design Week Lagos, incisive speakers swapped the question of how African design reaches the world for a harder one: what it needs at home.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

8 Mins Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Installation view, Special Project by Tristan Hoare Gallery and Alexandra de Cadaval Art Projects, 1-54 London 2026, Somerset House. Photo: India Jane.

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

Londonโ€™s Three Fairs Have Closed; Paris Is Open and Lagos Is Next

@@SLUG@@

londonโ€™s-three-fairs-have-closed-paris-is-open-and-lagos-is-next

@@CATEGORY@@

Art News

@@DESCRIPTION@@

1-54, Frieze London and Frieze Masters have closed; Art Basel Paris and AKAA are open this weekend, with ART X Lagos and the Lagos Biennial to follow.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

2 Mins Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Ozong Agborsangaya-Fiteu, ร” Cameroon! Modern and Contemporary Art and Artists From 1925 to Now, 2026, front cover. Courtesy: 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

More Than 170 Cameroonian Artists Feature in New โ€œร” Cameroon!โ€ Art Book

@@SLUG@@

more-than-170-cameroonian-artists-feature-in-new-โ€œรด-cameroon-โ€-art-book

@@CATEGORY@@

Art News

@@DESCRIPTION@@

Conceived by the collector Ozong Agborsangaya-Fiteu, the 424-page volume documents a century of Cameroonian art and launched at 1-54 London.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

3 Mins Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Benedict Chukwukadibia Enwonwu M.B.E., Anyanwu, 1958. Gilt bronze, 219 x 77 x 30 cm (excluding base). Photo: Bonhams. Courtesy of Bonhams.

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

Ben Enwonwuโ€™s โ€œAnyanwuโ€ Sets New Auction Record

@@SLUG@@

ben-enwonwuโ€™s-โ€œanyanwuโ€-sets-new-auction-record

@@CATEGORY@@

Art News

@@DESCRIPTION@@

The gilt-bronze sculpture sold at Bonhams in London for ยฃ602,100, including the buyerโ€™s premium.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

3 Mind Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Okiki Akinfe, Fame is a Gun, 2026. Oil on linen, 100 ร— 200 cm. Photo: Joanna Wilk. Courtesy of the artist and Ginny on Frederick.

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

Everything We Know About Okiki Akinfe, Winner of the Inaugural Dasha Shenkman Focus Fund Prize at Frieze London

@@SLUG@@

everything-we-know-about-okiki-akinfe-winner-of-the-inaugural-dasha-shenkman-focus-fund-prize-at-frieze-london

@@CATEGORY@@

Art News

@@DESCRIPTION@@

British-Nigerian artist Okiki Akinfe won the ยฃ30,000 Dasha Shenkman Focus Fund prize at Frieze London. Here is what we know about her work and career so far.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

6 Min Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Martin Wรถllenstein, Flowing Upstream, installation view, Edmond J. Safra Fountain Court, Somerset House. Presented by Perve Galeria.

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

At 1-54, Clay Pulls Against Itself

@@SLUG@@

at-1-54-clay-pulls-against-itself

@@CATEGORY@@

Art News

@@DESCRIPTION@@

Five artists at this yearโ€™s fair use clay to hold opposites: fragility and permanence, hidden labour and finished form, waste and value.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

5 Mins Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Cocoa farmers, Adumadum, Eastern Region, Ghana | Photo: Alfred Quartey | Courtesy of Selassie Atadika

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

A Ghanaian Cocoa Installation at 1-54 Tells the Story of How Raw Materials Become Luxury Goods

@@SLUG@@

selassie-atadika-commodity-couture-1-54-london

@@CATEGORY@@

Art News

@@DESCRIPTION@@

At 1-54, Selassie Atadikaโ€™s installation features a brass cocoa pod, farm scents and recordings of Ghanaian farmers.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

3 Mins Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Yinka Ilori | Photo: Kane Hulse

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

How Yinka Ilori Marked Frieze Week Away from Regentโ€™s Park

@@SLUG@@

yinka-ilori-takes-his-chairs-home-to-islington-for-frieze-week

@@CATEGORY@@

Art News

@@DESCRIPTION@@

The British-Nigerian artist staged "Chairman" in the North London neighbourhood where he grew up, with a Nigeria edition now under discussion for 2027. Interview and reporting by Tobi Alexandra Falade / 17 October 2026.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

3 Mins Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Sophie Okonedo as Clarissa in Clarissa, 2026 | Courtesy of [CREDIT: as supplied by DDA / Neon]

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

How the Spirit-Level Joke in Clarissa Was Built

@@SLUG@@

how-the-spirit-level-joke-in-clarissa-was-built

@@CATEGORY@@

Art News

@@DESCRIPTION@@

Arie and Chuko Esiri on a crooked mosaic, an improvised gesture and a house designed as its ownerโ€™s portrait.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

3 Mins Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Unathi Mkontoโ€™s Artist-to-Artist installation at Frieze London, 2026 | Photo: Stephen White & Co | Courtesy of the artist and Goodman Gallery

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

Unathi Mkonto Wins Nicoletta Fiorucci Foundation Prize at Frieze London

@@SLUG@@

unathi-mkonto-wins-nicoletta-fiorucci-foundation-prize-at-frieze-london

@@CATEGORY@@

Art News

@@DESCRIPTION@@

Nominated by Yinka Shonibare for Friezeโ€™s Artist-to-Artist programme, the Cape Town-based artist wins the ยฃ10,000 Nicoletta Fiorucci Foundation Prize for a new presentation of beechwood sculptures.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

3 Mins Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Still from The Secret Lives of Baba Segiโ€™s Wives, 2026 | Courtesy of the BFI London Film Festival

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

โ€œThereโ€™s Melodrama in the Way We Make Our Filmsโ€: Director Daniel Oriahi on The Secret Lives of Baba Segiโ€™s Wives

@@SLUG@@

daniel-oriahi-secret-lives-of-baba-segis-wives

@@CATEGORY@@

In Conversation

@@DESCRIPTION@@

Following its European premiere at the BFI London Film Festival, Daniel Oriahi discusses the demands of adapting Lola Shoneyinโ€™s novel for the screen and the complications of Nollywoodโ€™s storytelling heritage.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

6 Mins. Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

The shelf and empty chair in Where Is Dadiyata?, Gatefield Office, Abuja. Image courtesy of Goethe-Institut Nigeria.

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

REVIEW: An Architecture of Refusal

@@SLUG@@

review-an-architecture-of-refusal

@@CATEGORY@@

Editorials

@@DESCRIPTION@@

In Abuja, a single open bookshelf is set against the quiet closure of the law. The staging is too sparse for its subject; the performance and the manuscript that travel with it are not.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

4 Mins Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Installation view, Frank Coffie, Between and Almost Far from Hard Walls, WorldFaze Art Practice, Accra, 2026.

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

Frank Coffie: Between and Almost Far from Hard Walls

@@SLUG@@

frank-coffie-between-and-almost-far-from-hard-walls

@@CATEGORY@@

In Conversation

@@DESCRIPTION@@

In his first solo exhibition in Ghana, Frank Coffie builds paintings backwards โ€” yarn first, paint last โ€” from family memory, discarded fabric and pain.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

8 mins Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Luke Agada in his studio. Photo: Robert Chase Heishman. Courtesy the artist.

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

Luke Agada: 'We Live our Memories in Colour'

@@SLUG@@

luke-agada-we-leave-our-memories-in-colour

@@CATEGORY@@

In Conversation

@@DESCRIPTION@@

In When the Center Holds, the Nigerian artist speaks with Sabo Kpade about suspension, memory, postcolonial thought, colour and why drawing becomes an x-ray into painting.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

6 Mins Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Jacqueline Suowari, a figurative artist, beside one of her drawings.  Courtesy Jacqueline Suowari

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

Armory Show: 5 Works to See Up Close

@@SLUG@@

armory-show-5-works-to-see-up-close

@@CATEGORY@@

Editorials

@@DESCRIPTION@@

Thread that turns into faces, bronze that becomes a crowd, ceramic coral clinging to a sunken object, a "painting" that turns out to be a quilt: the Nigerian artist Jacqueline Suowari takes us on a tour of the fair at the Javits Center in New York, pointing out the five works that rewarded her for stepping closer.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

8 Mins Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Installation view, Kerry James Marshall: The Histories, Musรฉe dโ€™Art Moderne de Paris, 2026, with Knowledge and Wonder (1995). ARTWORK ยฉ KERRY JAMES MARSHALL. PHOTO: NICOLAS BOREL ยฉ MUSร‰E Dโ€™ART MODERNE DE PARIS / PARIS MUSร‰ES.

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

3 Exhibitions to See This Week

@@SLUG@@

3-exhibitions-to-see-this-week

@@CATEGORY@@

What's On

@@DESCRIPTION@@

In Lagos, Victoria Ndubuisi and Paulcy Odama turn bodies into landscape and monumental architecture into something fragile. In Abuja, Dotun Popoola bends discarded metal until it holds movement and likeness. In Paris, four decades of Kerry James Marshall place Black figures at the centre of history painting. Three shows about what a surface can be made to carry.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

3 Mins Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Portrait of Emma Prempeh. Photo: Nana Ampofo. Courtesy of dot.ateliers

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

In conversation with Emma Prempeh

@@SLUG@@

in-conversation-emma-prempeh

@@CATEGORY@@

In Conversation

@@DESCRIPTION@@

The painter on returning to Accra, colliding London with Obuasi, and why she lets a painting go above 90 percent.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

8 Mins Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Chika Idu in front of his paintings in Pure Water. Courtesy SMO Contemporary Art.

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

For Chika Idu, Water Holds Memoryโ€”and the Possibility of Freedom

@@SLUG@@

chika-idu-in-conversation-with-sunshine-alaibe

@@CATEGORY@@

In Conversation

@@DESCRIPTION@@

Recorded at ARAMI, Lagos, during a press preview for Pure Water, Chika Iduโ€™s solo exhibition with SMO Contemporary Art. In conversation with Sunshine Alaibe, Idu traces water through childhood drought, environmental precarity, the Atlantic slave trade and the changing representation of women in his work. By Sunshine Alaibe Edited by Sabo Kpade 17 September 2026. This conversation has been condensed, reordered and edited for clarity.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

10 Mins Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Installation view, Sungi Mlengeya, Earth and Sky, Les filles du calvaire, Paris, 2026. ยฉ Sungi Mlengeya. Courtesy of Galerie Les filles du calvaire, Afriart Gallery and the artist.

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

4 Exhibitions to See This Week

@@SLUG@@

4-exhibitions-to-see-this-week

@@CATEGORY@@

What's On

@@DESCRIPTION@@

A Tanzanian painter turns white space into a field of memory; a Paris gallery fills with flea-market talismans. In Lagos, one group show tests affinities across generations while another asks how traces survive in material form. Four exhibitions worth seeing this week.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

4 Mins Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Tschabalala Self's Lady in Blue unveiled on Trafalgar Squareโ€™s Fourth Plinth in London, 2026. Photo: Jeff Spicer, PA Media Assignments.

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

Tschabalala Selfโ€™s Lady In Blue Unveiled on Londonโ€™s Fourth Plinth

@@SLUG@@

tschabalala-selfโ€™s-lady-in-blue-unveiled-on-londonโ€™s-fourth-plinth

@@CATEGORY@@

Art News

@@DESCRIPTION@@

Tschabalala Selfโ€™s Lady In Blue has arrived at Londonโ€™s Trafalgar Square, transforming the iconic Fourth Plinth with a monumental portrait of the contemporary woman.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

3 Mins Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Bartheฬleฬmy Toguo, The Nomadic Studio, Galerie Lelong, Paris, 2026. Courtesy Galerie Lelong (1)

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

5 Things to See This Week

@@SLUG@@

things-to-see-this-week-2

@@CATEGORY@@

What's On

@@DESCRIPTION@@

From Ruth Ige and Chika Idu in Lagos to Barthรฉlรฉmy Toguo and Ladji Diaby in Paris, the exhibitions worth making time for now.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

5 Mins Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Emma Prempeh, One world for another, 2026. Oil, acrylic and schlag metal on canvas, diptych. Overall unframed: 200 ร— 300 cm. Photo: Nii-Odzenma. Courtesy the artist and Perrotin.

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

4 Things to See This Week

@@SLUG@@

4-things-to-see-this-week

@@CATEGORY@@

What's On

@@DESCRIPTION@@

This week: grief and inheritance in Lagos, material memory and belonging in Paris, and Ndidi Dikeโ€™s economies of extraction in Stockholm.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

4 Mins Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Botswana-born artist Kelebogile Marope. Picture: (Supplied)

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

Botswana Takes the Stage: Kelebogile Marope Named 2026 FNB Art Prize Winner

@@SLUG@@

botswana-takes-the-stage-kelebogile-marope-named-2026-fnb-art-prize-winner

@@CATEGORY@@

Art News

@@DESCRIPTION@@

History was made this year at FNB Art Joburg. Sculptor Kelebogile Marope has been announced as the winner of the 2026 FNB Art Prize โ€” becoming the first artist from Botswana to ever take home the award since its inception nineteen editions ago.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

3 Mins Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Gabriel Selassie Tsagli, Rave, 2026. [wall colour and oil on canvas, 240 x 360 cm] Courtesy the artist and Gallery 1957.

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

3 Things to See in Accra This Week

@@SLUG@@

3-things-to-see-in-accra-this-week

@@CATEGORY@@

What's On

@@DESCRIPTION@@

At Nubuke Foundation domestic objects turn into archives of labour and belonging, Gabriel Selassie Tsagli sets the choreography of the rave against private grief and Frank Coffie makes yarn do two entirely different jobs in one room.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

3 Mins Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Gabriel Selassie Tsagli, Kafui, 2026, Pastel and oil on canvas, 200 x 160 cm. Courtesy of the Artist and Gallery 1957. Photo Nii Odzenma

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

In conversation with Gabriel Selassie Tsagli

@@SLUG@@

gabriel-selassie-tsagli

@@CATEGORY@@

In Conversation

@@DESCRIPTION@@

Gabriel Selassie Tsagli left Ghana at eleven and lived in Germany for twenty-six years. He returned to Accra in 2024 and made the paintings in Son of Kafuiโ€”his first proper solo exhibition at homeโ€”in a single stretch between February and this summer. He does not use a colour palette, works on many canvases at once, and calls the show a graduation. This conversation was recorded in Accra in August 2026 and has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

6 Mins Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Ngozi-Omeje Ezema, Aga ekworo ngbagbu, 2026, Ceramics, acrylic, monofilament, fishing line, metal, 150 x 30 x 150 cm | 59 x 11.8 x 59 in. Courtey the artist and kรณ.

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

3 Things to See in Lagos This Week

@@SLUG@@

things-to-see-this-week

@@CATEGORY@@

What's On

@@DESCRIPTION@@

Stephen Tayo finds social choreography in the movements around worship, Ameh Egwuh builds a language from yellow bodies and white birds, and Ngozi-Omeje Ezema discovers what a vessel can hold after it breaks.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

3 Mins Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

A New Chapter at the Silo: Elvira Dyangani Ose Takes the Helm at Zeitz MOCAA

@@SLUG@@

a-new-chapter-at-the-silo-elvira-dyangani-ose-takes-the-helm-at-zeitz-mocaa

@@CATEGORY@@

Art News

@@DESCRIPTION@@

Appointment of Elvira Dyangani Ose as the artistic director of Zeitz Musuem of Contemporary Art, Cape Town. The choice that signals both continuity and a widening of horizons.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

3 Mins Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

Coral Walls, Blue Skies: A Conversation with Orry Shenjobi on Her Venice Residency

@@SLUG@@

coral-walls-blue-skies-a-conversation-with-orry-shenjobi-on-her-venice-residency

@@CATEGORY@@

In Conversation

@@DESCRIPTION@@

Orry Shenjobi on her Venice residency: raffia craftwork, studio life, and what she learned โ€” with takeaways for artists eyeing their own residency.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

4 Mins Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

Joy as Resistance: Inside Yinka Ilori's Homecoming Exhibition

@@SLUG@@

joy-as-resistance-inside-yinka-ilori-s-homecoming-exhibition

@@CATEGORY@@

What's On

@@DESCRIPTION@@

For nearly a decade, Yinka Ilori has been known as an artist of colour and community โ€” the designer behind playful, technicolour public interventions across London and beyond.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

5 Mins Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Yinka Shonibare | Material (SG) V, 2025 | Steel armature with hand painted glass reinforced polyester cast tripod and theodolite  Work: 400 x 200 x 200 cm (157.5 x 78.7 x 78.7 in.)  Unique

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

What's On: African Artists, Around the World

@@SLUG@@

what-s-on-african-artists-around-the-world

@@CATEGORY@@

What's On

@@DESCRIPTION@@

From London to Lagos, New York to the French Riviera, African and diasporic artists are commanding some of the most talked-about gallery walls this summer. Here's where to go, who to see, and what to expect before the doors close.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

3 mins

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

Inside Asidere/Duke: A Retrospective

@@SLUG@@

inside-asidere-duke-a-retrospective

@@CATEGORY@@

What's On

@@DESCRIPTION@@

Two Galleries, Four Decades, One Artist Running Out of Time to See in Lagos

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

4 mins

@@THUMBNAIL@@

NCMM Bilateral Agreement ceremony  | Courtesy of NCMM

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

The Bronzes Are Home. Is Nigeria Ready for Them?

@@SLUG@@

the-bronzes-are-home.-is-nigeria-ready-for-them

@@CATEGORY@@

Editorials

@@DESCRIPTION@@

Switzerland's return of eighteen Benin Bronzes and four Ikom monoliths is a milestone in a restitution movement that is starting to outpace the institutions meant to receive it.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

8 mins

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Goethe-Institut Dakar. Photo by Iwan Baan.

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

Francis Kรฉrรฉ Just Built Germany's First Purpose-Built Cultural Home โ€” In Senegal

@@SLUG@@

francis-kรฉrรฉ-just-built-germany-s-first-purpose-built-cultural-home-โ€”-in-senegal

@@CATEGORY@@

Art News

@@DESCRIPTION@@

The Goethe-Institut has operated for more than 75 years without ever commissioning a building of its own. It chose Dakar, and a Burkinabรจ architect, to break that streak.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

3 min

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

The Art Market: 9 Observations In The First Half Of 2024

@@SLUG@@

the-art-market-9-observations-in-the-first-half-of-2024

@@CATEGORY@@

Reports

@@DESCRIPTION@@

The art world is accustomed to cycles of boom and bust, but the first half of 2024 offered a particularly vivid tableau of contrasting fortunes and unexpected shifts. As galleries, auction houses, and fairs grappled with uncertaintyโ€”from geopolitical tensions to fluctuating interest ratesโ€”several key developments stood out, reshaping the landscape of the art market.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

4 Mins Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

In Conversation With Nduka Ikechukwu

@@SLUG@@

in-conversation-with-nduka-ikechukwu

@@CATEGORY@@

In Conversation

@@DESCRIPTION@@

Ralph Waldo Emerson, in his essay "Society and Solitude," wrote, "We do not believe our own thought; we must serve somebody; we must quote somebody; we dote on the old and the distant; we are tickled by great names; we quote their opinions; we cite their laws." For Ikechukwu Nduka, he stands as the antithesis of the society Emerson critiques. He defied societal expectations and familial disapproval to pursue his passion for art, successfully contending the dependence on the opinions of others. "They say art is therapy, but while creative minds like us are creating this 'therapy', I think we need it the most, or rather we need it first." He aptly expressed the stark pressure.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

7 Mins Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

God's Artist: Dianna Offor is Bridging the Gap Between Faith and Art

@@SLUG@@

god-s-artist-dianna-offor-is-bridging-the-gap-between-faith-and-art

@@CATEGORY@@

Editorials

@@DESCRIPTION@@

Dianna Offor, nicknamed "God's Artist," is a Nigerian-born visual artist, whose work is dedicated to expressing the essence of God and importance of faith in todays society. Currently living in Irelandโ€“where she recently acquired a diploma in studio art painting, Offor has spent the last three years depicting the theme of Hope and Love through her biblical abstract paintings.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

13 Mins Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

What The Museo del Prado Experience Taught Us About Telling Our Own Stories

@@SLUG@@

what-the-museo-del-prado-experience-taught-us-about-telling-our-own-stories

@@CATEGORY@@

Editorials

@@DESCRIPTION@@

Last week, Art Report Africa served as the official media partner for New Narratives and Singular Communication in Arts Journalism: The Museo del Prado Experience โ€” a two-day international workshop held at the Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art, Pan-Atlantic University, Lagos, organised in partnership with the Embassy of Spain in Nigeria and Casa รfrica through its #Periodismoรfrica programme.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

2 Mins Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

The Obamas: Springing Forth โ€” Njideka Akunyili Crosby and the Portrait That Was Always Coming

@@SLUG@@

the-obamas-springing-forth-โ€”-njideka-akunyili-crosby-and-the-portrait-that-was-always-coming

@@CATEGORY@@

Editorials

@@DESCRIPTION@@

On 14 June 2026, the Obama Presidential Center unveiled "The Obamas: Springing Forth" โ€” a large-scale work by Njideka Akunyili Crosby, rendered in acrylic, coloured pencils, charcoal, and transfers on paper, measuring 108 by 120 inches. It now hangs in the Hope and Change Lobby of the museum's main building, free and open to the public, before the Centre's official grand opening on Juneteenth. It is the first official portrait of the former President and First Lady together.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

3 Mins Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

Art Report Africa's Guide to London Gallery Weekend 2026

@@SLUG@@

art-report-africa-s-guide-to-london-gallery-weekend-2026

@@CATEGORY@@

What's On

@@DESCRIPTION@@

London Gallery Weekend returns for its sixth edition this 5โ€“7 June, bringing together over 120 galleries across the capital for three days of exhibitions, talks, and events โ€” all free and open to the public. For its Co-Directors Jeremy Epstein and Sarah Rustin, the 2026 edition is "a convening moment that is both local and global in its scope and audience, reflecting the year-on-year revitalisation and evolution of the capital's contemporary art scene."

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

4 Mins Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

In Minor Keys, Africa Speaks at Full Volume

@@SLUG@@

in-minor-keys-africa-speaks-at-full-volume

@@CATEGORY@@

Editorials

@@DESCRIPTION@@

The 2026 Venice Biennale is, on paper, the most African edition in the exhibition's 131-year history. But what does that actually mean โ€” and who does it serve?

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

5 Mins Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

Tiwani Contemporary, Pioneer of African Art in London, Is Closing

@@SLUG@@

tiwani-contemporary-pioneer-of-african-art-in-london-is-closing

@@CATEGORY@@

Art News

@@DESCRIPTION@@

Tiwani Contemporary is closing its London doors. The gallery, which has operated out of 24 Cork Street in Mayfair since 2023 will shut its London space after already pausing operations at its Lagos outpost on Victoria Island.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

3 Mins Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

Omenaa Mensah Joins Tateโ€™s Africa Acquisitions Committee, Becoming The First Polish Member

@@SLUG@@

omenaa-mensah-joins-tateโ€™s-africa-acquisitions-committee-becoming-the-first-polish-member

@@CATEGORY@@

Art News

@@DESCRIPTION@@

Polish philanthropist and art advocate Omenaa Mensah, of Ghanaian heritage, has been invited to join the prestigious Africa Acquisitions Committee (AAC) at Tate, one of the worldโ€™s most influential cultural institutions. Her appointment not only marks a milestone as the first Polish member of the Committee but also underscores Warsawโ€™s growing significance on the global art world.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

2 Mins Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

ART X Lagos Marks a Decade: 10th Edition, 6โ€“9 November 2025

@@SLUG@@

art-x-lagos-marks-a-decade-10th-edition-6โ€“9-november-2025

@@CATEGORY@@

Art News

@@DESCRIPTION@@

This November, Lagos will host a milestone edition of ART X Lagos โ€” the fair turns ten. Since its founding in 2016 by Tokini Petersideโ€‘Schwebig, ART X Lagos has grown into West Africaโ€™s premier art-fair and a benchmark for contemporary African art.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

2 Mins Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

Fela Kuti: Afrobeat Rebellion โ€“ A Homecoming to Lagos

@@SLUG@@

fela-kuti-afrobeat-rebellion-โ€“-a-homecoming-to-lagos

@@CATEGORY@@

What's On

@@DESCRIPTION@@

On October 12, 2025, the Ecobank Pan African Centre in Lagos opens its doors to Fela Kuti: Afrobeat Rebellion, marking the return of an exhibition that celebrates one of Africaโ€™s most influential cultural figures. Originally curated by the Philharmonie de Paris in 2022, the exhibition is now reimagined for its Nigerian debut by the A Whitespace Creative Arts (AWCA) Foundation, with support from the French Embassy in Nigeria and the Kuti family.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

2 Mins Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

A New Home for Heritage: ADEGBOLA Gallery Launches in Lagos with Landmark Exhibition Heroes Past

@@SLUG@@

a-new-home-for-heritage-adegbola-gallery-launches-in-lagos-with-landmark-exhibition-heroes-past

@@CATEGORY@@

What's On

@@DESCRIPTION@@

The Nigerian art landscape welcomed a major new institution with the launch of ADEGBOLA Gallery in Victoria Island, Lagos. Founded by lawyer and cultural entrepreneur Kayode Adegbola, the gallery officially opened its doors on October 1, 2025, Nigeria's Independence Day. The space has been established with the ambition of creating a new home for serious curatorial work that is deeply anchored in local context while maintaining global relevance.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

2 Mins Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

Pavilion of Zimbabwe at the 61st Venice Biennale: โ€œSecond Nature | Manyongaโ€

@@SLUG@@

pavilion-of-zimbabwe-at-the-61st-venice-biennale-second-nature-manyonga

@@CATEGORY@@

Editorials

@@DESCRIPTION@@

The Pavilion of Zimbabwe announces its participation in the 61st International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia, opening in April 2026 under the artistic direction of Adriano Pedrosa and the central exhibition In Minor Keys.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

2 Mins Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

UK Government Acquires Journaliste by Djofray Makumbu for National Collection

@@SLUG@@

uk-government-acquires-journaliste-by-djofray-makumbu-for-national-collection

@@CATEGORY@@

Art News

@@DESCRIPTION@@

The UK government has acquired Journaliste (2023), a powerful mixed-media animation by British-Congolese artist Djofray Makumbu, for the nationโ€™s public art collection, marking a major milestone in the artistโ€™s rising career.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

2 Mins Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

KAWS Denies Collaboration After Slawnโ€™s Viral Post Sparks Confusion

@@SLUG@@

kaws-denies-collaboration-after-slawnโ€™s-viral-post-sparks-confusion

@@CATEGORY@@

Art News

@@DESCRIPTION@@

In the latest twist in the ever-blurring lines between internet virality and art world credibility, American artist KAWS has publicly denied any collaboration with London-based Nigerian artist and designer Slawn, following a now-viral post shared by Slawn suggesting a joint project between the two.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

2 Mins Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

Ideas of Africa: Photography, Identity, and Transnational Solidarity at MoMA, United States

@@SLUG@@

ideas-of-africa-photography-identity-and-transnational-solidarity-at-moma-united-states

@@CATEGORY@@

What's On

@@DESCRIPTION@@

A groundbreaking exhibition explores photographyโ€™s role in shaping Pan-African identity, solidarity, and political thought The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) has announced a landmark exhibition titled Ideas of Africa: Portraiture and Political Imagination, opening December 14, 2025, and running through July 25, 2026.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

3 Mins Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

Southern Guild Returns to The Armory Show with a Powerful Multigenerational Lineup

@@SLUG@@

southern-guild-returns-to-the-armory-show-with-a-powerful-multigenerational-lineup

@@CATEGORY@@

What's On

@@DESCRIPTION@@

Southern Guild is set to make its third consecutive appearance at The Armory Show, presenting a powerful new body of work at Booth 117 of the Javits Center. The presentation, on view during the VIP Preview on September 4 and to the public from September 5โ€“7, will feature new paintings, sculpture, and photography from a roster of seminal artists from South Africa, Morocco, Benin, and Nigeria.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

2 Mins Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

A Voice in the Void: Meeting Yusuff Ainaโ€™s Silent Character

@@SLUG@@

a-voice-in-the-void-meeting-yusuff-ainaโ€™s-silent-character

@@CATEGORY@@

Editorials

@@DESCRIPTION@@

There's a voice that lives inside us, often waiting in silence. It's a part of ourselves that we sometimes bury, a quiet shadow that only finds expression when we allow it to. Yusuff Aina's latest character, "Voied," is a compelling new light for this hidden self.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

3 Mins Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

O'DA Art Gallery Asserts: Black Figuration Is Alive and Well

@@SLUG@@

o-da-art-gallery-asserts-black-figuration-is-alive-and-well

@@CATEGORY@@

Editorials

@@DESCRIPTION@@

In response to a growing chorus in the global art world declaring that โ€œBlack figuration is over,โ€ Oโ€™DA Art Galleryโ€™s latest exhibition, Black Figuration is Alive and Well, offers a firm and timely rebuttal. Bringing together a dynamic group of contemporary artists working across painting, sculpture, photography, collage, and digital media, the exhibition argues for figuration not as trend or aesthetic repetition, but as a vital language of presence, imagination, and agency.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

2 Mins Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

MOWAA to Open New Museum Campus in Benin City

@@SLUG@@

mowaa-to-open-new-museum-campus-in-benin-city

@@CATEGORY@@

Art News

@@DESCRIPTION@@

The Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) will officially open its new museum campus in Benin City, Nigeria, to the public on Tuesday, 11 November 2025. The opening marks a major milestone in the institutionโ€™s vision to build world-class infrastructure for the research, preservation, and presentation of West African art and heritage.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

2 Mins Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

Avoiding the Pitfalls: Six Common Mistakes Art Collectors Makeโ€”and How to Steer Clear

@@SLUG@@

avoiding-the-pitfalls-six-common-mistakes-art-collectors-makeโ€”and-how-to-steer-clear

@@CATEGORY@@

Editorials

@@DESCRIPTION@@

In the nuanced world of art collecting, the process is often as significant as the acquisition itself. Whether motivated by aesthetic appreciation, investment potential, or cultural enrichment, collectors must ensure that their decisions reflect both their personal values and long-term vision.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

3 Mins Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

What Sotheby's Really Said When It Dissolved Its African Art Department

@@SLUG@@

what-sotheby-s-really-said-when-it-dissolved-its-african-art-department

@@CATEGORY@@

Reports

@@DESCRIPTION@@

In April 2025, Sotheby's quietly absorbed its dedicated Modern & Contemporary African Art department into the broader contemporary sales operation. A year on, we need to talk about what that decision actually means โ€” and stop accepting the spin.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

4 Mins Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

Victoria Ndubuisi's Solo Exhibition โ€œแปŒmแปฅgwแปโ€ at Nomadic Art Gallery Journeys Through Motherhood

@@SLUG@@

victoria-ndubuisi-s-solo-exhibition-โ€œแปmแปฅgwแปโ€-at-nomadic-art-gallery-journeys-through-motherhood

@@CATEGORY@@

What's On

@@DESCRIPTION@@

Victoria Ndubuisiโ€™s distinctive approach to painting captures attention in a remarkable way. In her ongoing solo exhibition titled "แปŒmแปฅgwo," she employs a unique marbling technique for the backgrounds of her artworks, created through the dynamic act of performance.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

3 Mins Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

African Artists at the Aichi Triennale 2025

@@SLUG@@

african-artists-at-the-aichi-triennale-2025

@@CATEGORY@@

Art News

@@DESCRIPTION@@

The upcoming Aichi Triennale 2025, set from September 13 to November 30 in Japan, promises a reformative global dialogue on contemporary art. Under the evocative theme A Time Between Ashes and Rosesโ€”a nod to Adonisโ€™s 1970 poemโ€”the festival goes beyond mere traditional national narratives, inviting diverse perspectives that reimagine our connection to time, nature, and society. Among the 60 selected artists, a powerful contingent from Africa brings distinct voices and innovative practices to the international stage. Hereโ€™s a closer look at five remarkable African artists featured in this year's Triennale.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

3 Mins Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

291 Galleries Set for Art Basel 2025 as Fair Introduces New Section

@@SLUG@@

291-galleries-set-for-art-basel-2025-as-fair-introduces-new-section

@@CATEGORY@@

Art News

@@DESCRIPTION@@

Art Basel has unveiled the lineup for its 2025 edition in Basel, Switzerland, set to take place from June 19โ€“22, with preview days on June 17โ€“18. The fair, widely regarded as a bellwether for the global art market, will host 291 galleries, including major blue-chip establishments and an expanded focus on ultra-contemporary art through a newly introduced sectionโ€”Premiere.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

3 Mins Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

African Women Take the Lead in Art Sales, Defying Market Downturn

@@SLUG@@

african-women-take-the-lead-in-art-sales-defying-market-downturn

@@CATEGORY@@

Editorials

@@DESCRIPTION@@

For the first time in art market history, female African artists collectively surpassed their male counterparts in auction sales in 2023โ€”a development initially dismissed as an anomaly. Yet, the trend persisted into 2024, with women artists securing a commanding 52.8% share of total African art sales.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

3 Mins Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

Koyo Kouoh Joins Jury for Art Baselโ€™s New Awards Program

@@SLUG@@

koyo-kouoh-joins-jury-for-art-baselโ€™s-new-awards-program

@@CATEGORY@@

Art News

@@DESCRIPTION@@

Art Basel has unveiled its latest initiativeโ€”the Art Basel Awardsโ€”a groundbreaking recognition platform set to spotlight artists, curators, and influential figures who shape the global art landscape. This ambitious program underscores Art Baselโ€™s growing commitment to acknowledging excellence and fostering innovation across artistic disciplines.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

2 Mins Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

When We See Us: A Century of Black Figuration in Painting

@@SLUG@@

when-we-see-us-a-century-of-black-figuration-in-painting

@@CATEGORY@@

Editorials

@@DESCRIPTION@@

At a time when conversations about diversity, representation, and identity are more important than ever, Bozarโ€™s latest exhibition When We See Us offers a powerful exploration into how we perceive ourselves and others.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

1 Min Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

Sothebyโ€™s First Crypto Auction in Saudi Arabia Redefines Art and Innovation

@@SLUG@@

sothebyโ€™s-first-crypto-auction-in-saudi-arabia-redefines-art-and-innovation

@@CATEGORY@@

Reports

@@DESCRIPTION@@

Imagine buying a masterpiece with Bitcoin or Ether. No, it's not a dream โ€” itโ€™s the future of art, and it's happening now. Sothebyโ€™s, one of the world's most prestigious auction houses, has announced it will accept cryptocurrency payments at its upcoming โ€œOriginsโ€ auction in Saudi Arabia.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

2 Mins Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

A WORLD IN COMMON: Contemporary African Photography-Group Show

@@SLUG@@

a-world-in-common-contemporary-african-photography-group-show

@@CATEGORY@@

Editorials

@@DESCRIPTION@@

Curated by Osei Bonsu, curator of international art at Tate Modern, and Cale Garrido, guest curator at the C/O Berlin Foundation, A World in Common presents twenty-three African and African diaspora artists from different generations and geographical contexts - with works by Kelani Abass, Atong Atem, Malala Andrialavidrazana, Edson Chagas, Kudzanai Chiurai, Rotimi Fani-Kayode, Maรฏmouna Guerresi, Hassan Hajjaj, Dรฉlio Jasse, Julianknxx, Samson Kambalu, Kiripi Katembo, Lebohang Kganye, Mรกrio Macilau, Sabelo Mlangeni, Santu Mofokeng, Fabrice Monteiro, Aรฏda Muluneh, Wura-Natasha Ogunji, George Osodi, Dawit L. Petros, Zina Saro-Wiwa, and Khadija Saye.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

2 Mins Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

Richard Vedelago, Windsor Gallery Founder

@@SLUG@@

richard-vedelago-windsor-gallery-founder

@@CATEGORY@@

In Conversation

@@DESCRIPTION@@

Windsor Gallery is becoming a prominent player in the West African art scene, expanding its influence from Lagos to Abuja and Abidjan in just a few short years. This growth signals not only the gallery's ambition but also its commitment to creating a platform for contemporary African art.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

6 Mins Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

Tadesse Mesfin on Reclaiming the Narrative of Ethiopian Women

@@SLUG@@

in-conversation-with-tadesse-mesfin-on-reclaiming-the-narrative-of-ethiopian-women

@@CATEGORY@@

In Conversation

@@DESCRIPTION@@

In Ethiopia, women vendors are often overlooked and marginalized, despite being the backbone of the market. Their struggles are perpetuated by societal perceptions of their stature. Challenging these norms, Tadesse Mesfin's solo exhibition, "Where We Coalesce," currently on view at Addis Fine Art (until November 30, 2024), seeks to reframe the narrative surrounding Ethiopian women.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

5 Mins Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

Sosa Omorogbe | Founder of The 1897 Gallery

@@SLUG@@

sosa-omorogbe-founder-of-the-1897-gallery

@@CATEGORY@@

In Conversation

@@DESCRIPTION@@

In the midst of shifting societal norms and increasing complexity around identity, "Freedom in Multitudes" asks important questions about Black and African identity. Through the work of nine international artists, this 1897 Gallery exhibition explores the nuances of self-expression.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

5 Mins Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

Art Season: Things to look forward to in October

@@SLUG@@

art-season-things-to-look-forward-to-in-october

@@CATEGORY@@

Editorials

@@DESCRIPTION@@

As September gets to its mid point, now is a good time to look at what October promises for the art world, with fairs and auctions spanning continents, spotlighting both emerging and established talent.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

3 Mins Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

Sothebyโ€™s London to Host Landmark Auction of African Art this September

@@SLUG@@

sothebyโ€™s-london-to-host-landmark-auction-of-african-art-this-september

@@CATEGORY@@

Reports

@@DESCRIPTION@@

Sothebyโ€™s will soon host its latest Modern and Contemporary African Art auction in London, marking another significant milestone for the global appreciation of the continent's art. Scheduled for September 27, 2024, at its New Bond Street galleries, this auction will bring under the hammer a diverse selection of works, from the stalwarts of 20th-century African modernism to some of the most exciting contemporary names on the international stage.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

2 Mins Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

Yinka Ilori's Takeover at Sothebyโ€™s: A Fusion of Culture and Craft

@@SLUG@@

yinka-ilori-s-takeover-at-sothebyโ€™s-a-fusion-of-culture-and-craft

@@CATEGORY@@

Art News

@@DESCRIPTION@@

The British-Nigerian artist and designer Yinka Ilori has transformed Sothebyโ€™s cafรฉ on New Bond Street with his distinctive style, infusing the space with vibrant adire motifs, bold symbols, and colorful furnishings. The installation, titled "Pride is Within My Story," runs until October 31, and celebrates the diverse talents that have made London their home while highlighting the city's inclusive artistic community.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

3 Mins Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

Episode 8: Art Professionals Africa Unplugged | In Conversation with Olumide Omololu

@@SLUG@@

episode-8-art-professionals-africa-unplugged-in-conversation-with-olumide-omololu

@@CATEGORY@@

Podcasts

@@DESCRIPTION@@

On this episode we speak to Graphic Designer and Brand communications expert, Olumide Omololu, on Tips on how to brand your creative business! We look at how to be an authentic designer, understanding creative markets and conceptualising your brand image in todays digital age.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

1 Min Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

Episode 7: Art Professionals Africa Unplugged: In Conversation with Wunika Mukan

@@SLUG@@

episode-7-art-professionals-africa-unplugged-in-conversation-with-wunika-mukan

@@CATEGORY@@

Podcasts

@@DESCRIPTION@@

On this episode we speak to curator and founder of Wunika Mukan Gallery, Wunika Mukan on her journey into the Art Market and navigating creative industries in a time where Art was not a valued asset. Wunika is the founder of Wunika Mukan Gallery, formerly known as Pacers Gallery and is also the director of the Womenโ€™s Film Club.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

1 Min Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

A Collection of African Artefacts Heads to Auction Following Owner's Bankruptcy

@@SLUG@@

a-collection-of-african-artefacts-heads-to-auction-following-owner-s-bankruptcy

@@CATEGORY@@

Art News

@@DESCRIPTION@@

An African art collection is once again set for auction after its owner, Sam Njunuri, filed for bankruptcy earlier this year. The collection, comprising over 1,000 pieces including sculptures and monuments, has been at the centre of a legal dispute dating back to 2015.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

1 Min Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

Exploring the Life and Legacy of Yusuf Grillo through the eyes of his daughter

@@SLUG@@

exploring-the-life-and-legacy-of-yusuf-grillo-through-the-eyes-of-his-daughter

@@CATEGORY@@

Editorials

@@DESCRIPTION@@

Imagine growing up surrounded by art that wasn't just on the walls, but woven into the very fabric of Lagos. That was the world of Mrs Rayo Anthonio, daughter of the legendary Yusuf Grillo.Yusuf Grillo's story is one of dedication and quiet revolution.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

5 Mins Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

Episode 6: Art Professionals Africa Unplugged: In Conversation with Asibi Danjuma

@@SLUG@@

episode-6-art-professionals-africa-unplugged-in-conversation-with-asibi-danjuma

@@CATEGORY@@

Podcasts

@@DESCRIPTION@@

In this episode we speak to curator and founder of Phรญlos, Asibi Danjuma on inventing new strategies for business in the African Art Market and navigating the economical downturn. PHILOS is a framework that merges fine Art and literature in exploring the profundity of the African continent based in Lagos, Nigeria.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

1 Min Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

Episode 5: Art Professionals Africa Unplugged: In Conversation with Aisha Aliyu-Bima

@@SLUG@@

episode-5-art-professionals-africa-unplugged-in-conversation-with-aisha-aliyu-bima

@@CATEGORY@@

Podcasts

@@DESCRIPTION@@

On this episode we have a special interview with curator, writer and photographer, Aisha Aliyu-Bima, who opens her largest curatorial project next week at the Yemisi Shyllon Museum in Lagos, Nigeria.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

1 Min Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

Basquiat's Triptych Heads Back to Auction for the Second Time in Three Years, With a Significant Price Decline

@@SLUG@@

basquiat-s-triptych-heads-back-to-auction-for-the-second-time-in-three-years-with-a-significant-price-decline

@@CATEGORY@@

Reports

@@DESCRIPTION@@

Jean-Michel Basquiat's acclaimed 1982 triptych "Portrait of the Artist as a Young Derelict" is preparing to hit the auction block once again, this time at a Sotheby's modern and contemporary sale in London later this month. This will be the second time the work has been auctioned in the past three years. Nonetheless, the work appears to have substantially declined in value since its last outing at auction just two years ago.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

1 Min Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

Episode 4: Art Professionals Africa Unplugged In Conversation with Olufisayo Bakare

@@SLUG@@

episode-4-art-professionals-africa-unplugged-in-conversation-with-olufisayo-bakare

@@CATEGORY@@

Podcasts

@@DESCRIPTION@@

Art Professionals Africa Unplugged is now available on all podcast platforms including, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and IHeart Radio! On this episode, we speak to Designer, & Curator Olufisayo Bakare, Olufisayo Bakare, on her journey to becoming a curator, the responsibilities of holding such a position and the future of the African Art Market as it relies on specific industry stakeholders.on the intricacies of the curatorial practice

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

1 Min Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

The Now Evening Auction At Sotheby's Sets New Auction Records

@@SLUG@@

the-now-evening-auction-at-sotheby-s-sets-new-auction-records

@@CATEGORY@@

Reports

@@DESCRIPTION@@

The auction, held on 13 May 2024, in New York, featured works by both emerging and established artists, including Njideka Akunyili Crosby, Toyin Ojih Odutola, Takako Yamaguchi, Tracey Emin, Kerry James Marshall, George Condo, Adrian Ghenie, Jacqueline Humphries, Christina Quarles, Jadรฉ Fadojutimi, Avery Singer, Cecily Brown, Jeffrey Gibson, Lisa Yuskavage, and Lynette Yiadom-Boakye. The total auction sales came to $32.7 million from an estimated $24.15โ€“34.60 million.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

2 Mins Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

Rare Basquiat Works From Pellizzi Collection Up for Auction at Phillips

@@SLUG@@

rare-basquiat-works-from-pellizzi-collection-up-for-auction-at-phillips

@@CATEGORY@@

Reports

@@DESCRIPTION@@

Three paintings by Jean-Michel Basquiat, once owned by the late Italian anthropologist and editor Francesco Pellizzi, will be offered for sale at Phillips this May. The works, which have not been on the market for decades, are expected to fetch high prices.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

2 Mins Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

Episode 2: Art Professionals Africa Unplugged: In Conversation with Obida Obioha

@@SLUG@@

episode-2-art-professionals-africa-unplugged-in-conversation-with-obida-obioha

@@CATEGORY@@

Podcasts

@@DESCRIPTION@@

On this episode of โ€œArt Professionals Africa Unpluggedโ€, we speak to Founder of Oโ€™DA Art & Obida Collective Obida Obioha on The Art of Collecting in Nigeria: Art investment and tips on building a diverse collection.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

1 Min Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

Episode 1: Art Professionals Africa Unplugged: In Conversation with Dolly Kola-Balogun

@@SLUG@@

episode-1-art-professionals-africa-unplugged-in-conversation-with-dolly-kola-balogun

@@CATEGORY@@

Podcasts

@@DESCRIPTION@@

On this episode, we speak to Founder and Creative director of Retro Africa, Dolly Kola-Balogun.On this episode, we look at the intricacies of the art market from a Nigerian lens. In the midst of a global economic downturn, inflation and political turbulence across several African nations, we look at the strategies and business practices that she adopts to balance and build a successful organization.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

1 Min Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

Art Professionals Africa Unplugged: A Podcast that expands on the African Art Market today

@@SLUG@@

art-professionals-africa-unplugged-a-podcast-that-expands-on-the-african-art-market-today

@@CATEGORY@@

In Conversation

@@DESCRIPTION@@

On this podcast, we delve into the stories of Key Industry Players in different art ecosystems on the African continent. We speak to Gallerists, Art Historians, Curators, Advisors & Art Directors to get insight on their markets domestically.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

1 Min Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

Navigating the Nigerian Creative Landscape: In Conversation with Olufisayo Bakare

@@SLUG@@

navigating-the-nigerian-creative-landscape-in-conversation-with-olufisayo-bakare

@@CATEGORY@@

In Conversation

@@DESCRIPTION@@

Within Nigeriaโ€™s creative scene, Olufisayo Bakare stands as a multifaceted force. Born in Lagos to a family with a rich art and design heritage, her interests took her through the intricacies of various industries. From aspiring artist to entrepreneur and curator, Olufisayo is the visionary behind the brand, interior Living (Intlvng) and The Yellow of Lagos.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

7 Mins Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

Living With Art: Anjola Awosika explores the home of Gallerist, Obida Obioha

@@SLUG@@

living-with-art-anjola-awosika-explores-the-home-of-gallerist-obida-obioha

@@CATEGORY@@

Editorials

@@DESCRIPTION@@

Anjola Awosika gives insight to his mission for this series: "I'm on a mission to unfold the vibrant African narrative through the lens of food and interior photography. I thrive on encapsulating the richness of our diverse culture in every shot, whether it's the savory essence of our cuisine or the allure of stunning interior spaces. Join me in this exhilarating journey at the core of my media agency, where we celebrate the beauty of African life through the captivating art of photography."

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

1 Min Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

Anjola Awosika launches Design Project to celebrate African culture in various living spaces across Nigeria

@@SLUG@@

anjola-awosika-launches-design-project-to-celebrate-african-culture-in-various-living-spaces-across-nigeria

@@CATEGORY@@

Editorials

@@DESCRIPTION@@

Debuting this month, Anjola Awosika announces "ร€njolรก", an Interior Design project celebrating African culture in African homes. Looking at how functionality, comfort and Art coalesce in living spaces, Awosika is determined to document the intricate details that contribute to the beauty of specific African homes.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

1 Min Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

O'DA Art Gallery Opens first solo exhibition by Abe Odedina in Lagos, Nigeria

@@SLUG@@

o-da-art-gallery-opens-first-solo-exhibition-by-abe-odedina-in-lagos-nigeria

@@CATEGORY@@

What's On

@@DESCRIPTION@@

Oโ€™DA Art is pleased to present, Walk like a Champion, Abe Odedinaโ€™s first solo exhibition in Lagos, Nigeria. This new body of work is a testament to this special gathering and the thrilling opportunity to finally exhibit in Nigeria again and most importantly, to make a show for his Mother ahead of the centenary of her birth. Its title, that Odedina attests, โ€˜is not about swagger. Itโ€™s not about strutting around. Itโ€™s about what you think a champion is? Itโ€™s about being undeniably true to yourself. When we say โ€œwalkโ€, itโ€™s in a more important sense than one foot in front of the other. Itโ€™s how you go through life. Itโ€™s the Big Walk.โ€™

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

2 Mins Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

Nengi Omuku's first Museum Show, The Dance of People and the Natural World, dazzles!

@@SLUG@@

nengi-omuku-s-first-museum-show-the-dance-of-people-and-the-natural-world-dazzles

@@CATEGORY@@

Art News

@@DESCRIPTION@@

First major UK solo exhibition of new and recent works by Lagos-based artist Nengi Omuku, exploring her profound relationship with the natural world.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

3 Mins Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

THIS IS NOT A WHITE CUBE partners with The Africa Center to presents Renรฉ Tavares

@@SLUG@@

this-is-not-a-white-cube-partners-with-the-africa-center-to-presents-renรฉ-tavares

@@CATEGORY@@

Art News

@@DESCRIPTION@@

Opening on 9th Ocotober, 2023, โ€˜PORTRAITS FOR ENGLISH TO SEEโ€™, presents six new works that are part of Renรฉ Tavaresโ€™ most recent and iconic painting series โ€“ โ€œPortraits for English to Seeโ€ and โ€œCotton People Reloadedโ€.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

2 Mins Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

Declaration of Independence: A Performance by Barby Asante

@@SLUG@@

declaration-of-independence-a-performance-by-barby-asante

@@CATEGORY@@

Art News

@@DESCRIPTION@@

Art on the Underground, London, United Kingdom is set to present an exciting seminal performative work, Declaration of Independence, featuring multifaceted London-based artist, educator, and researcher, Barby Asante. This newly commissioned iteration will take place at Stratford Tube station on Sunday 17 September 2023.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

1 Min Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

U.S. Authorities Indict A 25-Year-Old Man Accused Of Stealing $450,000 Worth Of Cryptocurrency

@@SLUG@@

u.s.-authorities-indict-a-25-year-old-man-accused-of-stealing-450-000-worth-of-cryptocurrency

@@CATEGORY@@

Reports

@@DESCRIPTION@@

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has announced the indictment of Soufiane Oulahyane, a Moroccan national, for allegedly stealing $450,000 worth of cryptocurrencies and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) from unsuspecting users of the popular NFT marketplace OpenSea.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

2 Mins Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

Retro Africa Debuts at Art Basel Hong Kong with solo presentation of Victor Ehikhamenorโ€™s Tapestries

@@SLUG@@

retro-africa-debuts-at-art-basel-hong-kong-with-solo-presentation-of-victor-ehikhamenorโ€™s-tapestries

@@CATEGORY@@

Art News

@@DESCRIPTION@@

Art Basel Hong Kong, will welcome a new participant this year: Retro Africa, a contemporary art gallery based in Abuja, Nigeria. This will be the gallery's first appearance at the prestigious fair, where it will present a solo show by Nigerian-American artist Victor Ehikhamenor.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

2 Mins Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

@@STORY@@

@@TITLE@@

EMOWAA appoints Professor Chike Okeke-Agulu and Aindrea Emelife as Special Adviser, Curator

@@SLUG@@

emowaa-appoints-professor-chike-okeke-agulu-and-aindrea-emelife-as-special-adviser-curator

@@CATEGORY@@

Art News

@@DESCRIPTION@@

The EMOWAA (Edo Museum of West African Art) Trust has announced the appointments of two distinguished art pioneers to strengthen its focus on modern and contemporary art. Professor Chika Okeke-Agulu, a Nigerian art historian and professor at Princeton University and Oxford University, will serve as Senior Advisor, Modern and Contemporary Art. Aindrea Emelife, a Nigerian-British curator and Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, will be the new Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art.

@@DATE@@

@@AUTHOR@@

@@READING@@

2 Mins Read

@@THUMBNAIL@@

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

The Art Report Africa Guide to Lagos Art Week Alternatives

From theatre and dance to literary gatherings, experimental architecture and artistsโ€™ studios, the Art Report Africa team shares what they would make time for.

Edward Saidi Tingatinga, Untitled (Landscape with Lion and Bird), 1971. Enamel on board. 58.5 x 58.5 cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa.

Art Auction East Africa Achieves 90% Sell-Through, with More Than Half of Works Exceeding Estimates

The Nairobi-based auction generated KES 46.3 million, with works by Edward Saidi Tingatinga and Peterson Kamwathi among those selling above their estimates.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Art Auction East Africa Expands Its Reach for 14th Annual Sale

The Nairobi-based auction will feature 68 modern and contemporary works on 28 October by artists from nine countries, including Angola, Mozambique and Nigeria.

Installation view, Mรฉmoire Matรฉrielle, 193 Gallery, Paris, 2026, showing works by Joana Choumali and Gaรซlle Choisne. Photo: Nicolas Brasseur. Courtesy of 193 Gallery.

โ€œMรฉmoire Matรฉrielleโ€: Can Materials Hold Memory?

Mรฉmoire Matรฉrielleโ€: Can Materials Hold Memory? The exhibition at 193 Gallery in Paris rethinks memory as a material process through works that explore preservation, repair, transmission and colonial afterlives.

Abuja International Photo Festival, 2025. Photo: Abuja International Photo Festival. Courtesy Osaze Efe.

Abuja International Photo Festival 2026: Osaze Efe Wants You to Look Beyond the Photographs

As the festival marks its 10th edition, its founder and creative director reflects on a decade of Nigerian photography and the questions raised by artificial intelligence.

Installation view, AKAA 2026, Le Carreau du Temple, Paris. Photo: ยฉ Lionel Belluteau / @unoeilquitraine.

Art Basel Paris Closed Early; AKAA Ended Yesterday, Lagos Is Next

Art Basel Paris closed two days early while AKAA ended yesterday. ART X Lagos and the Lagos Biennial open next.

Installation view of ARTBASEโ€™s presentation of Aliou Diack, AKAA 2026, Le Carreau du Temple, Paris. Courtesy ARTBASE.

Four Standout Booths at AKAA

Four standout gallery presentations at AKAA 2026, from Ernest Breleurโ€™s collages of the human body to Maya Inรจs Touamโ€™s richly composed still lifes.

Sitor Senghor, artistic director of AKAA. ยฉ Tous droits rรฉservรฉs. Courtesy of AKAA.

โ€œDrawing Is Not a Minor Art Formโ€: Sitor Senghor on AKAA 2026

The fairโ€™s artistic director on pairing photography with works on paper, how Paris differs from London, and why an artistโ€™s first gesture on paper matters.

A visitor in the Design + Innovation Exhibition at the National Theatre, Lagos, during Design Week Lagos 2026. Photo: Chibuzo Emmanuel for Art Report Africa.

On Day 2 of Design Week Lagos, Africaโ€™s Relationship with the World Came into Sharp Focus

At Design Week Lagos, incisive speakers swapped the question of how African design reaches the world for a harder one: what it needs at home.

Installation view, Special Project by Tristan Hoare Gallery and Alexandra de Cadaval Art Projects, 1-54 London 2026, Somerset House. Photo: India Jane.

Londonโ€™s Three Fairs Have Closed; Paris Is Open and Lagos Is Next

1-54, Frieze London and Frieze Masters have closed; Art Basel Paris and AKAA are open this weekend, with ART X Lagos and the Lagos Biennial to follow.

Ozong Agborsangaya-Fiteu, ร” Cameroon! Modern and Contemporary Art and Artists From 1925 to Now, 2026, front cover. Courtesy: 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair

More Than 170 Cameroonian Artists Feature in New โ€œร” Cameroon!โ€ Art Book

Conceived by the collector Ozong Agborsangaya-Fiteu, the 424-page volume documents a century of Cameroonian art and launched at 1-54 London.

Benedict Chukwukadibia Enwonwu M.B.E., Anyanwu, 1958. Gilt bronze, 219 x 77 x 30 cm (excluding base). Photo: Bonhams. Courtesy of Bonhams.

Ben Enwonwuโ€™s โ€œAnyanwuโ€ Sets New Auction Record

The gilt-bronze sculpture sold at Bonhams in London for ยฃ602,100, including the buyerโ€™s premium.

Okiki Akinfe, Fame is a Gun, 2026. Oil on linen, 100 ร— 200 cm. Photo: Joanna Wilk. Courtesy of the artist and Ginny on Frederick.

Everything We Know About Okiki Akinfe, Winner of the Inaugural Dasha Shenkman Focus Fund Prize at Frieze London

British-Nigerian artist Okiki Akinfe won the ยฃ30,000 Dasha Shenkman Focus Fund prize at Frieze London. Here is what we know about her work and career so far.

Martin Wรถllenstein, Flowing Upstream, installation view, Edmond J. Safra Fountain Court, Somerset House. Presented by Perve Galeria.

At 1-54, Clay Pulls Against Itself

Five artists at this yearโ€™s fair use clay to hold opposites: fragility and permanence, hidden labour and finished form, waste and value.

Cocoa farmers, Adumadum, Eastern Region, Ghana | Photo: Alfred Quartey | Courtesy of Selassie Atadika

A Ghanaian Cocoa Installation at 1-54 Tells the Story of How Raw Materials Become Luxury Goods

At 1-54, Selassie Atadikaโ€™s installation features a brass cocoa pod, farm scents and recordings of Ghanaian farmers.

Yinka Ilori | Photo: Kane Hulse

How Yinka Ilori Marked Frieze Week Away from Regentโ€™s Park

The British-Nigerian artist staged "Chairman" in the North London neighbourhood where he grew up, with a Nigeria edition now under discussion for 2027. Interview and reporting by Tobi Alexandra Falade / 17 October 2026.

Sophie Okonedo as Clarissa in Clarissa, 2026 | Courtesy of [CREDIT: as supplied by DDA / Neon]

How the Spirit-Level Joke in Clarissa Was Built

Arie and Chuko Esiri on a crooked mosaic, an improvised gesture and a house designed as its ownerโ€™s portrait.

Unathi Mkontoโ€™s Artist-to-Artist installation at Frieze London, 2026 | Photo: Stephen White & Co | Courtesy of the artist and Goodman Gallery

Unathi Mkonto Wins Nicoletta Fiorucci Foundation Prize at Frieze London

Nominated by Yinka Shonibare for Friezeโ€™s Artist-to-Artist programme, the Cape Town-based artist wins the ยฃ10,000 Nicoletta Fiorucci Foundation Prize for a new presentation of beechwood sculptures.

Still from The Secret Lives of Baba Segiโ€™s Wives, 2026 | Courtesy of the BFI London Film Festival

โ€œThereโ€™s Melodrama in the Way We Make Our Filmsโ€: Director Daniel Oriahi on The Secret Lives of Baba Segiโ€™s Wives

Following its European premiere at the BFI London Film Festival, Daniel Oriahi discusses the demands of adapting Lola Shoneyinโ€™s novel for the screen and the complications of Nollywoodโ€™s storytelling heritage.

The shelf and empty chair in Where Is Dadiyata?, Gatefield Office, Abuja. Image courtesy of Goethe-Institut Nigeria.

REVIEW: An Architecture of Refusal

In Abuja, a single open bookshelf is set against the quiet closure of the law. The staging is too sparse for its subject; the performance and the manuscript that travel with it are not.

Installation view, Frank Coffie, Between and Almost Far from Hard Walls, WorldFaze Art Practice, Accra, 2026.

Frank Coffie: Between and Almost Far from Hard Walls

In his first solo exhibition in Ghana, Frank Coffie builds paintings backwards โ€” yarn first, paint last โ€” from family memory, discarded fabric and pain.

Luke Agada in his studio. Photo: Robert Chase Heishman. Courtesy the artist.

Luke Agada: 'We Live our Memories in Colour'

In When the Center Holds, the Nigerian artist speaks with Sabo Kpade about suspension, memory, postcolonial thought, colour and why drawing becomes an x-ray into painting.

Jacqueline Suowari, a figurative artist, beside one of her drawings.  Courtesy Jacqueline Suowari

Armory Show: 5 Works to See Up Close

Thread that turns into faces, bronze that becomes a crowd, ceramic coral clinging to a sunken object, a "painting" that turns out to be a quilt: the Nigerian artist Jacqueline Suowari takes us on a tour of the fair at the Javits Center in New York, pointing out the five works that rewarded her for stepping closer.

Installation view, Kerry James Marshall: The Histories, Musรฉe dโ€™Art Moderne de Paris, 2026, with Knowledge and Wonder (1995). ARTWORK ยฉ KERRY JAMES MARSHALL. PHOTO: NICOLAS BOREL ยฉ MUSร‰E Dโ€™ART MODERNE DE PARIS / PARIS MUSร‰ES.

3 Exhibitions to See This Week

In Lagos, Victoria Ndubuisi and Paulcy Odama turn bodies into landscape and monumental architecture into something fragile. In Abuja, Dotun Popoola bends discarded metal until it holds movement and likeness. In Paris, four decades of Kerry James Marshall place Black figures at the centre of history painting. Three shows about what a surface can be made to carry.

Portrait of Emma Prempeh. Photo: Nana Ampofo. Courtesy of dot.ateliers

In conversation with Emma Prempeh

The painter on returning to Accra, colliding London with Obuasi, and why she lets a painting go above 90 percent.

Chika Idu in front of his paintings in Pure Water. Courtesy SMO Contemporary Art.

For Chika Idu, Water Holds Memoryโ€”and the Possibility of Freedom

Recorded at ARAMI, Lagos, during a press preview for Pure Water, Chika Iduโ€™s solo exhibition with SMO Contemporary Art. In conversation with Sunshine Alaibe, Idu traces water through childhood drought, environmental precarity, the Atlantic slave trade and the changing representation of women in his work. By Sunshine Alaibe Edited by Sabo Kpade 17 September 2026. This conversation has been condensed, reordered and edited for clarity.

Installation view, Sungi Mlengeya, Earth and Sky, Les filles du calvaire, Paris, 2026. ยฉ Sungi Mlengeya. Courtesy of Galerie Les filles du calvaire, Afriart Gallery and the artist.

4 Exhibitions to See This Week

A Tanzanian painter turns white space into a field of memory; a Paris gallery fills with flea-market talismans. In Lagos, one group show tests affinities across generations while another asks how traces survive in material form. Four exhibitions worth seeing this week.

Tschabalala Self's Lady in Blue unveiled on Trafalgar Squareโ€™s Fourth Plinth in London, 2026. Photo: Jeff Spicer, PA Media Assignments.

Tschabalala Selfโ€™s Lady In Blue Unveiled on Londonโ€™s Fourth Plinth

Tschabalala Selfโ€™s Lady In Blue has arrived at Londonโ€™s Trafalgar Square, transforming the iconic Fourth Plinth with a monumental portrait of the contemporary woman.

Bartheฬleฬmy Toguo, The Nomadic Studio, Galerie Lelong, Paris, 2026. Courtesy Galerie Lelong (1)

5 Things to See This Week

From Ruth Ige and Chika Idu in Lagos to Barthรฉlรฉmy Toguo and Ladji Diaby in Paris, the exhibitions worth making time for now.

Emma Prempeh, One world for another, 2026. Oil, acrylic and schlag metal on canvas, diptych. Overall unframed: 200 ร— 300 cm. Photo: Nii-Odzenma. Courtesy the artist and Perrotin.

4 Things to See This Week

This week: grief and inheritance in Lagos, material memory and belonging in Paris, and Ndidi Dikeโ€™s economies of extraction in Stockholm.

Botswana-born artist Kelebogile Marope. Picture: (Supplied)

Botswana Takes the Stage: Kelebogile Marope Named 2026 FNB Art Prize Winner

History was made this year at FNB Art Joburg. Sculptor Kelebogile Marope has been announced as the winner of the 2026 FNB Art Prize โ€” becoming the first artist from Botswana to ever take home the award since its inception nineteen editions ago.

Gabriel Selassie Tsagli, Rave, 2026. [wall colour and oil on canvas, 240 x 360 cm] Courtesy the artist and Gallery 1957.

3 Things to See in Accra This Week

At Nubuke Foundation domestic objects turn into archives of labour and belonging, Gabriel Selassie Tsagli sets the choreography of the rave against private grief and Frank Coffie makes yarn do two entirely different jobs in one room.

Gabriel Selassie Tsagli, Kafui, 2026, Pastel and oil on canvas, 200 x 160 cm. Courtesy of the Artist and Gallery 1957. Photo Nii Odzenma

In conversation with Gabriel Selassie Tsagli

Gabriel Selassie Tsagli left Ghana at eleven and lived in Germany for twenty-six years. He returned to Accra in 2024 and made the paintings in Son of Kafuiโ€”his first proper solo exhibition at homeโ€”in a single stretch between February and this summer. He does not use a colour palette, works on many canvases at once, and calls the show a graduation. This conversation was recorded in Accra in August 2026 and has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.

Ngozi-Omeje Ezema, Aga ekworo ngbagbu, 2026, Ceramics, acrylic, monofilament, fishing line, metal, 150 x 30 x 150 cm | 59 x 11.8 x 59 in. Courtey the artist and kรณ.

3 Things to See in Lagos This Week

Stephen Tayo finds social choreography in the movements around worship, Ameh Egwuh builds a language from yellow bodies and white birds, and Ngozi-Omeje Ezema discovers what a vessel can hold after it breaks.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

A New Chapter at the Silo: Elvira Dyangani Ose Takes the Helm at Zeitz MOCAA

Appointment of Elvira Dyangani Ose as the artistic director of Zeitz Musuem of Contemporary Art, Cape Town. The choice that signals both continuity and a widening of horizons.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Coral Walls, Blue Skies: A Conversation with Orry Shenjobi on Her Venice Residency

Orry Shenjobi on her Venice residency: raffia craftwork, studio life, and what she learned โ€” with takeaways for artists eyeing their own residency.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Joy as Resistance: Inside Yinka Ilori's Homecoming Exhibition

For nearly a decade, Yinka Ilori has been known as an artist of colour and community โ€” the designer behind playful, technicolour public interventions across London and beyond.

Yinka Shonibare | Material (SG) V, 2025 | Steel armature with hand painted glass reinforced polyester cast tripod and theodolite  Work: 400 x 200 x 200 cm (157.5 x 78.7 x 78.7 in.)  Unique

What's On: African Artists, Around the World

From London to Lagos, New York to the French Riviera, African and diasporic artists are commanding some of the most talked-about gallery walls this summer. Here's where to go, who to see, and what to expect before the doors close.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Inside Asidere/Duke: A Retrospective

Two Galleries, Four Decades, One Artist Running Out of Time to See in Lagos

NCMM Bilateral Agreement ceremony  | Courtesy of NCMM

The Bronzes Are Home. Is Nigeria Ready for Them?

Switzerland's return of eighteen Benin Bronzes and four Ikom monoliths is a milestone in a restitution movement that is starting to outpace the institutions meant to receive it.

Goethe-Institut Dakar. Photo by Iwan Baan.

Francis Kรฉrรฉ Just Built Germany's First Purpose-Built Cultural Home โ€” In Senegal

The Goethe-Institut has operated for more than 75 years without ever commissioning a building of its own. It chose Dakar, and a Burkinabรจ architect, to break that streak.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

The Art Market: 9 Observations In The First Half Of 2024

The art world is accustomed to cycles of boom and bust, but the first half of 2024 offered a particularly vivid tableau of contrasting fortunes and unexpected shifts. As galleries, auction houses, and fairs grappled with uncertaintyโ€”from geopolitical tensions to fluctuating interest ratesโ€”several key developments stood out, reshaping the landscape of the art market.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

In Conversation With Nduka Ikechukwu

Ralph Waldo Emerson, in his essay "Society and Solitude," wrote, "We do not believe our own thought; we must serve somebody; we must quote somebody; we dote on the old and the distant; we are tickled by great names; we quote their opinions; we cite their laws." For Ikechukwu Nduka, he stands as the antithesis of the society Emerson critiques. He defied societal expectations and familial disapproval to pursue his passion for art, successfully contending the dependence on the opinions of others. "They say art is therapy, but while creative minds like us are creating this 'therapy', I think we need it the most, or rather we need it first." He aptly expressed the stark pressure.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

God's Artist: Dianna Offor is Bridging the Gap Between Faith and Art

Dianna Offor, nicknamed "God's Artist," is a Nigerian-born visual artist, whose work is dedicated to expressing the essence of God and importance of faith in todays society. Currently living in Irelandโ€“where she recently acquired a diploma in studio art painting, Offor has spent the last three years depicting the theme of Hope and Love through her biblical abstract paintings.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

What The Museo del Prado Experience Taught Us About Telling Our Own Stories

Last week, Art Report Africa served as the official media partner for New Narratives and Singular Communication in Arts Journalism: The Museo del Prado Experience โ€” a two-day international workshop held at the Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art, Pan-Atlantic University, Lagos, organised in partnership with the Embassy of Spain in Nigeria and Casa รfrica through its #Periodismoรfrica programme.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

The Obamas: Springing Forth โ€” Njideka Akunyili Crosby and the Portrait That Was Always Coming

On 14 June 2026, the Obama Presidential Center unveiled "The Obamas: Springing Forth" โ€” a large-scale work by Njideka Akunyili Crosby, rendered in acrylic, coloured pencils, charcoal, and transfers on paper, measuring 108 by 120 inches. It now hangs in the Hope and Change Lobby of the museum's main building, free and open to the public, before the Centre's official grand opening on Juneteenth. It is the first official portrait of the former President and First Lady together.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Art Report Africa's Guide to London Gallery Weekend 2026

London Gallery Weekend returns for its sixth edition this 5โ€“7 June, bringing together over 120 galleries across the capital for three days of exhibitions, talks, and events โ€” all free and open to the public. For its Co-Directors Jeremy Epstein and Sarah Rustin, the 2026 edition is "a convening moment that is both local and global in its scope and audience, reflecting the year-on-year revitalisation and evolution of the capital's contemporary art scene."

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

In Minor Keys, Africa Speaks at Full Volume

The 2026 Venice Biennale is, on paper, the most African edition in the exhibition's 131-year history. But what does that actually mean โ€” and who does it serve?

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Tiwani Contemporary, Pioneer of African Art in London, Is Closing

Tiwani Contemporary is closing its London doors. The gallery, which has operated out of 24 Cork Street in Mayfair since 2023 will shut its London space after already pausing operations at its Lagos outpost on Victoria Island.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Omenaa Mensah Joins Tateโ€™s Africa Acquisitions Committee, Becoming The First Polish Member

Polish philanthropist and art advocate Omenaa Mensah, of Ghanaian heritage, has been invited to join the prestigious Africa Acquisitions Committee (AAC) at Tate, one of the worldโ€™s most influential cultural institutions. Her appointment not only marks a milestone as the first Polish member of the Committee but also underscores Warsawโ€™s growing significance on the global art world.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

ART X Lagos Marks a Decade: 10th Edition, 6โ€“9 November 2025

This November, Lagos will host a milestone edition of ART X Lagos โ€” the fair turns ten. Since its founding in 2016 by Tokini Petersideโ€‘Schwebig, ART X Lagos has grown into West Africaโ€™s premier art-fair and a benchmark for contemporary African art.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Fela Kuti: Afrobeat Rebellion โ€“ A Homecoming to Lagos

On October 12, 2025, the Ecobank Pan African Centre in Lagos opens its doors to Fela Kuti: Afrobeat Rebellion, marking the return of an exhibition that celebrates one of Africaโ€™s most influential cultural figures. Originally curated by the Philharmonie de Paris in 2022, the exhibition is now reimagined for its Nigerian debut by the A Whitespace Creative Arts (AWCA) Foundation, with support from the French Embassy in Nigeria and the Kuti family.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

A New Home for Heritage: ADEGBOLA Gallery Launches in Lagos with Landmark Exhibition Heroes Past

The Nigerian art landscape welcomed a major new institution with the launch of ADEGBOLA Gallery in Victoria Island, Lagos. Founded by lawyer and cultural entrepreneur Kayode Adegbola, the gallery officially opened its doors on October 1, 2025, Nigeria's Independence Day. The space has been established with the ambition of creating a new home for serious curatorial work that is deeply anchored in local context while maintaining global relevance.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Pavilion of Zimbabwe at the 61st Venice Biennale: โ€œSecond Nature | Manyongaโ€

The Pavilion of Zimbabwe announces its participation in the 61st International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia, opening in April 2026 under the artistic direction of Adriano Pedrosa and the central exhibition In Minor Keys.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

UK Government Acquires Journaliste by Djofray Makumbu for National Collection

The UK government has acquired Journaliste (2023), a powerful mixed-media animation by British-Congolese artist Djofray Makumbu, for the nationโ€™s public art collection, marking a major milestone in the artistโ€™s rising career.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

KAWS Denies Collaboration After Slawnโ€™s Viral Post Sparks Confusion

In the latest twist in the ever-blurring lines between internet virality and art world credibility, American artist KAWS has publicly denied any collaboration with London-based Nigerian artist and designer Slawn, following a now-viral post shared by Slawn suggesting a joint project between the two.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Ideas of Africa: Photography, Identity, and Transnational Solidarity at MoMA, United States

A groundbreaking exhibition explores photographyโ€™s role in shaping Pan-African identity, solidarity, and political thought The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) has announced a landmark exhibition titled Ideas of Africa: Portraiture and Political Imagination, opening December 14, 2025, and running through July 25, 2026.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Southern Guild Returns to The Armory Show with a Powerful Multigenerational Lineup

Southern Guild is set to make its third consecutive appearance at The Armory Show, presenting a powerful new body of work at Booth 117 of the Javits Center. The presentation, on view during the VIP Preview on September 4 and to the public from September 5โ€“7, will feature new paintings, sculpture, and photography from a roster of seminal artists from South Africa, Morocco, Benin, and Nigeria.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

A Voice in the Void: Meeting Yusuff Ainaโ€™s Silent Character

There's a voice that lives inside us, often waiting in silence. It's a part of ourselves that we sometimes bury, a quiet shadow that only finds expression when we allow it to. Yusuff Aina's latest character, "Voied," is a compelling new light for this hidden self.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

O'DA Art Gallery Asserts: Black Figuration Is Alive and Well

In response to a growing chorus in the global art world declaring that โ€œBlack figuration is over,โ€ Oโ€™DA Art Galleryโ€™s latest exhibition, Black Figuration is Alive and Well, offers a firm and timely rebuttal. Bringing together a dynamic group of contemporary artists working across painting, sculpture, photography, collage, and digital media, the exhibition argues for figuration not as trend or aesthetic repetition, but as a vital language of presence, imagination, and agency.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

MOWAA to Open New Museum Campus in Benin City

The Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) will officially open its new museum campus in Benin City, Nigeria, to the public on Tuesday, 11 November 2025. The opening marks a major milestone in the institutionโ€™s vision to build world-class infrastructure for the research, preservation, and presentation of West African art and heritage.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Avoiding the Pitfalls: Six Common Mistakes Art Collectors Makeโ€”and How to Steer Clear

In the nuanced world of art collecting, the process is often as significant as the acquisition itself. Whether motivated by aesthetic appreciation, investment potential, or cultural enrichment, collectors must ensure that their decisions reflect both their personal values and long-term vision.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

What Sotheby's Really Said When It Dissolved Its African Art Department

In April 2025, Sotheby's quietly absorbed its dedicated Modern & Contemporary African Art department into the broader contemporary sales operation. A year on, we need to talk about what that decision actually means โ€” and stop accepting the spin.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Victoria Ndubuisi's Solo Exhibition โ€œแปŒmแปฅgwแปโ€ at Nomadic Art Gallery Journeys Through Motherhood

Victoria Ndubuisiโ€™s distinctive approach to painting captures attention in a remarkable way. In her ongoing solo exhibition titled "แปŒmแปฅgwo," she employs a unique marbling technique for the backgrounds of her artworks, created through the dynamic act of performance.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

African Artists at the Aichi Triennale 2025

The upcoming Aichi Triennale 2025, set from September 13 to November 30 in Japan, promises a reformative global dialogue on contemporary art. Under the evocative theme A Time Between Ashes and Rosesโ€”a nod to Adonisโ€™s 1970 poemโ€”the festival goes beyond mere traditional national narratives, inviting diverse perspectives that reimagine our connection to time, nature, and society. Among the 60 selected artists, a powerful contingent from Africa brings distinct voices and innovative practices to the international stage. Hereโ€™s a closer look at five remarkable African artists featured in this year's Triennale.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

291 Galleries Set for Art Basel 2025 as Fair Introduces New Section

Art Basel has unveiled the lineup for its 2025 edition in Basel, Switzerland, set to take place from June 19โ€“22, with preview days on June 17โ€“18. The fair, widely regarded as a bellwether for the global art market, will host 291 galleries, including major blue-chip establishments and an expanded focus on ultra-contemporary art through a newly introduced sectionโ€”Premiere.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

African Women Take the Lead in Art Sales, Defying Market Downturn

For the first time in art market history, female African artists collectively surpassed their male counterparts in auction sales in 2023โ€”a development initially dismissed as an anomaly. Yet, the trend persisted into 2024, with women artists securing a commanding 52.8% share of total African art sales.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Koyo Kouoh Joins Jury for Art Baselโ€™s New Awards Program

Art Basel has unveiled its latest initiativeโ€”the Art Basel Awardsโ€”a groundbreaking recognition platform set to spotlight artists, curators, and influential figures who shape the global art landscape. This ambitious program underscores Art Baselโ€™s growing commitment to acknowledging excellence and fostering innovation across artistic disciplines.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

When We See Us: A Century of Black Figuration in Painting

At a time when conversations about diversity, representation, and identity are more important than ever, Bozarโ€™s latest exhibition When We See Us offers a powerful exploration into how we perceive ourselves and others.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Sothebyโ€™s First Crypto Auction in Saudi Arabia Redefines Art and Innovation

Imagine buying a masterpiece with Bitcoin or Ether. No, it's not a dream โ€” itโ€™s the future of art, and it's happening now. Sothebyโ€™s, one of the world's most prestigious auction houses, has announced it will accept cryptocurrency payments at its upcoming โ€œOriginsโ€ auction in Saudi Arabia.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

A WORLD IN COMMON: Contemporary African Photography-Group Show

Curated by Osei Bonsu, curator of international art at Tate Modern, and Cale Garrido, guest curator at the C/O Berlin Foundation, A World in Common presents twenty-three African and African diaspora artists from different generations and geographical contexts - with works by Kelani Abass, Atong Atem, Malala Andrialavidrazana, Edson Chagas, Kudzanai Chiurai, Rotimi Fani-Kayode, Maรฏmouna Guerresi, Hassan Hajjaj, Dรฉlio Jasse, Julianknxx, Samson Kambalu, Kiripi Katembo, Lebohang Kganye, Mรกrio Macilau, Sabelo Mlangeni, Santu Mofokeng, Fabrice Monteiro, Aรฏda Muluneh, Wura-Natasha Ogunji, George Osodi, Dawit L. Petros, Zina Saro-Wiwa, and Khadija Saye.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Richard Vedelago, Windsor Gallery Founder

Windsor Gallery is becoming a prominent player in the West African art scene, expanding its influence from Lagos to Abuja and Abidjan in just a few short years. This growth signals not only the gallery's ambition but also its commitment to creating a platform for contemporary African art.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Tadesse Mesfin on Reclaiming the Narrative of Ethiopian Women

In Ethiopia, women vendors are often overlooked and marginalized, despite being the backbone of the market. Their struggles are perpetuated by societal perceptions of their stature. Challenging these norms, Tadesse Mesfin's solo exhibition, "Where We Coalesce," currently on view at Addis Fine Art (until November 30, 2024), seeks to reframe the narrative surrounding Ethiopian women.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Sosa Omorogbe | Founder of The 1897 Gallery

In the midst of shifting societal norms and increasing complexity around identity, "Freedom in Multitudes" asks important questions about Black and African identity. Through the work of nine international artists, this 1897 Gallery exhibition explores the nuances of self-expression.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Art Season: Things to look forward to in October

As September gets to its mid point, now is a good time to look at what October promises for the art world, with fairs and auctions spanning continents, spotlighting both emerging and established talent.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Sothebyโ€™s London to Host Landmark Auction of African Art this September

Sothebyโ€™s will soon host its latest Modern and Contemporary African Art auction in London, marking another significant milestone for the global appreciation of the continent's art. Scheduled for September 27, 2024, at its New Bond Street galleries, this auction will bring under the hammer a diverse selection of works, from the stalwarts of 20th-century African modernism to some of the most exciting contemporary names on the international stage.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Yinka Ilori's Takeover at Sothebyโ€™s: A Fusion of Culture and Craft

The British-Nigerian artist and designer Yinka Ilori has transformed Sothebyโ€™s cafรฉ on New Bond Street with his distinctive style, infusing the space with vibrant adire motifs, bold symbols, and colorful furnishings. The installation, titled "Pride is Within My Story," runs until October 31, and celebrates the diverse talents that have made London their home while highlighting the city's inclusive artistic community.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Episode 8: Art Professionals Africa Unplugged | In Conversation with Olumide Omololu

On this episode we speak to Graphic Designer and Brand communications expert, Olumide Omololu, on Tips on how to brand your creative business! We look at how to be an authentic designer, understanding creative markets and conceptualising your brand image in todays digital age.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Episode 7: Art Professionals Africa Unplugged: In Conversation with Wunika Mukan

On this episode we speak to curator and founder of Wunika Mukan Gallery, Wunika Mukan on her journey into the Art Market and navigating creative industries in a time where Art was not a valued asset. Wunika is the founder of Wunika Mukan Gallery, formerly known as Pacers Gallery and is also the director of the Womenโ€™s Film Club.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

A Collection of African Artefacts Heads to Auction Following Owner's Bankruptcy

An African art collection is once again set for auction after its owner, Sam Njunuri, filed for bankruptcy earlier this year. The collection, comprising over 1,000 pieces including sculptures and monuments, has been at the centre of a legal dispute dating back to 2015.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Exploring the Life and Legacy of Yusuf Grillo through the eyes of his daughter

Imagine growing up surrounded by art that wasn't just on the walls, but woven into the very fabric of Lagos. That was the world of Mrs Rayo Anthonio, daughter of the legendary Yusuf Grillo.Yusuf Grillo's story is one of dedication and quiet revolution.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Episode 6: Art Professionals Africa Unplugged: In Conversation with Asibi Danjuma

In this episode we speak to curator and founder of Phรญlos, Asibi Danjuma on inventing new strategies for business in the African Art Market and navigating the economical downturn. PHILOS is a framework that merges fine Art and literature in exploring the profundity of the African continent based in Lagos, Nigeria.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Episode 5: Art Professionals Africa Unplugged: In Conversation with Aisha Aliyu-Bima

On this episode we have a special interview with curator, writer and photographer, Aisha Aliyu-Bima, who opens her largest curatorial project next week at the Yemisi Shyllon Museum in Lagos, Nigeria.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Basquiat's Triptych Heads Back to Auction for the Second Time in Three Years, With a Significant Price Decline

Jean-Michel Basquiat's acclaimed 1982 triptych "Portrait of the Artist as a Young Derelict" is preparing to hit the auction block once again, this time at a Sotheby's modern and contemporary sale in London later this month. This will be the second time the work has been auctioned in the past three years. Nonetheless, the work appears to have substantially declined in value since its last outing at auction just two years ago.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Episode 4: Art Professionals Africa Unplugged In Conversation with Olufisayo Bakare

Art Professionals Africa Unplugged is now available on all podcast platforms including, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and IHeart Radio! On this episode, we speak to Designer, & Curator Olufisayo Bakare, Olufisayo Bakare, on her journey to becoming a curator, the responsibilities of holding such a position and the future of the African Art Market as it relies on specific industry stakeholders.on the intricacies of the curatorial practice

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

The Now Evening Auction At Sotheby's Sets New Auction Records

The auction, held on 13 May 2024, in New York, featured works by both emerging and established artists, including Njideka Akunyili Crosby, Toyin Ojih Odutola, Takako Yamaguchi, Tracey Emin, Kerry James Marshall, George Condo, Adrian Ghenie, Jacqueline Humphries, Christina Quarles, Jadรฉ Fadojutimi, Avery Singer, Cecily Brown, Jeffrey Gibson, Lisa Yuskavage, and Lynette Yiadom-Boakye. The total auction sales came to $32.7 million from an estimated $24.15โ€“34.60 million.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Rare Basquiat Works From Pellizzi Collection Up for Auction at Phillips

Three paintings by Jean-Michel Basquiat, once owned by the late Italian anthropologist and editor Francesco Pellizzi, will be offered for sale at Phillips this May. The works, which have not been on the market for decades, are expected to fetch high prices.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Episode 2: Art Professionals Africa Unplugged: In Conversation with Obida Obioha

On this episode of โ€œArt Professionals Africa Unpluggedโ€, we speak to Founder of Oโ€™DA Art & Obida Collective Obida Obioha on The Art of Collecting in Nigeria: Art investment and tips on building a diverse collection.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Episode 1: Art Professionals Africa Unplugged: In Conversation with Dolly Kola-Balogun

On this episode, we speak to Founder and Creative director of Retro Africa, Dolly Kola-Balogun.On this episode, we look at the intricacies of the art market from a Nigerian lens. In the midst of a global economic downturn, inflation and political turbulence across several African nations, we look at the strategies and business practices that she adopts to balance and build a successful organization.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Art Professionals Africa Unplugged: A Podcast that expands on the African Art Market today

On this podcast, we delve into the stories of Key Industry Players in different art ecosystems on the African continent. We speak to Gallerists, Art Historians, Curators, Advisors & Art Directors to get insight on their markets domestically.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Navigating the Nigerian Creative Landscape: In Conversation with Olufisayo Bakare

Within Nigeriaโ€™s creative scene, Olufisayo Bakare stands as a multifaceted force. Born in Lagos to a family with a rich art and design heritage, her interests took her through the intricacies of various industries. From aspiring artist to entrepreneur and curator, Olufisayo is the visionary behind the brand, interior Living (Intlvng) and The Yellow of Lagos.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Living With Art: Anjola Awosika explores the home of Gallerist, Obida Obioha

Anjola Awosika gives insight to his mission for this series: "I'm on a mission to unfold the vibrant African narrative through the lens of food and interior photography. I thrive on encapsulating the richness of our diverse culture in every shot, whether it's the savory essence of our cuisine or the allure of stunning interior spaces. Join me in this exhilarating journey at the core of my media agency, where we celebrate the beauty of African life through the captivating art of photography."

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Anjola Awosika launches Design Project to celebrate African culture in various living spaces across Nigeria

Debuting this month, Anjola Awosika announces "ร€njolรก", an Interior Design project celebrating African culture in African homes. Looking at how functionality, comfort and Art coalesce in living spaces, Awosika is determined to document the intricate details that contribute to the beauty of specific African homes.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

O'DA Art Gallery Opens first solo exhibition by Abe Odedina in Lagos, Nigeria

Oโ€™DA Art is pleased to present, Walk like a Champion, Abe Odedinaโ€™s first solo exhibition in Lagos, Nigeria. This new body of work is a testament to this special gathering and the thrilling opportunity to finally exhibit in Nigeria again and most importantly, to make a show for his Mother ahead of the centenary of her birth. Its title, that Odedina attests, โ€˜is not about swagger. Itโ€™s not about strutting around. Itโ€™s about what you think a champion is? Itโ€™s about being undeniably true to yourself. When we say โ€œwalkโ€, itโ€™s in a more important sense than one foot in front of the other. Itโ€™s how you go through life. Itโ€™s the Big Walk.โ€™

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Nengi Omuku's first Museum Show, The Dance of People and the Natural World, dazzles!

First major UK solo exhibition of new and recent works by Lagos-based artist Nengi Omuku, exploring her profound relationship with the natural world.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

THIS IS NOT A WHITE CUBE partners with The Africa Center to presents Renรฉ Tavares

Opening on 9th Ocotober, 2023, โ€˜PORTRAITS FOR ENGLISH TO SEEโ€™, presents six new works that are part of Renรฉ Tavaresโ€™ most recent and iconic painting series โ€“ โ€œPortraits for English to Seeโ€ and โ€œCotton People Reloadedโ€.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Declaration of Independence: A Performance by Barby Asante

Art on the Underground, London, United Kingdom is set to present an exciting seminal performative work, Declaration of Independence, featuring multifaceted London-based artist, educator, and researcher, Barby Asante. This newly commissioned iteration will take place at Stratford Tube station on Sunday 17 September 2023.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

U.S. Authorities Indict A 25-Year-Old Man Accused Of Stealing $450,000 Worth Of Cryptocurrency

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has announced the indictment of Soufiane Oulahyane, a Moroccan national, for allegedly stealing $450,000 worth of cryptocurrencies and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) from unsuspecting users of the popular NFT marketplace OpenSea.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Retro Africa Debuts at Art Basel Hong Kong with solo presentation of Victor Ehikhamenorโ€™s Tapestries

Art Basel Hong Kong, will welcome a new participant this year: Retro Africa, a contemporary art gallery based in Abuja, Nigeria. This will be the gallery's first appearance at the prestigious fair, where it will present a solo show by Nigerian-American artist Victor Ehikhamenor.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

EMOWAA appoints Professor Chike Okeke-Agulu and Aindrea Emelife as Special Adviser, Curator

The EMOWAA (Edo Museum of West African Art) Trust has announced the appointments of two distinguished art pioneers to strengthen its focus on modern and contemporary art. Professor Chika Okeke-Agulu, a Nigerian art historian and professor at Princeton University and Oxford University, will serve as Senior Advisor, Modern and Contemporary Art. Aindrea Emelife, a Nigerian-British curator and Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, will be the new Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

The Roots of Our Hands, Deep as Revolt: Entangled Colonialities of the Green

What does it mean to be green in a world that has been shaped by colonialism and capitalism? How can we rethink our relationship with nature and each other in the face of ecological crisis and social injustice? How can we reclaim and celebrate the diverse and sustainable ways of living that have been erased or marginalized by the dominant narratives of progress and development?

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

El Anatsui to transform the Tate Modern Turbine Hall for Hyundai Commission

'El Anatsui is responsible for some of the most unique and unforgettable sculptures in recent times and we are delighted that he will tackle the Turbine Hall this autumn for the annual Hyundai Commission,' said Frances Morris, Director of Tate Modern.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

"In the Black Fantasticโ€ Opens at the Kunsthal Museum, Netherlands

In a time where diversity and inclusion are becoming more important in the art world, the exhibition, In the Black Fantastic, is a timely and impactful exhibition that spotlights Black African Contemporary artists. Curated by Ghanaian-British Writer & Curator, Ekow Eshun, the exhibition was initially held at the Hayward Gallery in London where thousands of spectators flocked to view the work in its entirety. As a result , the exhibition has now been reopened at the Kunsthal Museum in the Netherlands.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa
Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Editorials

From theatre and dance to literary gatherings, experimental architecture and artistsโ€™ studios, the Art Report Africa team shares what they would make time for.

Edward Saidi Tingatinga, Untitled (Landscape with Lion and Bird), 1971. Enamel on board. 58.5 x 58.5 cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa.
Edward Saidi Tingatinga, Untitled (Landscape with Lion and Bird), 1971. Enamel on board. 58.5 x 58.5 cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa.

Art News

The Nairobi-based auction generated KES 46.3 million, with works by Edward Saidi Tingatinga and Peterson Kamwathi among those selling above their estimates.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa
Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Art News

The Nairobi-based auction will feature 68 modern and contemporary works on 28 October by artists from nine countries, including Angola, Mozambique and Nigeria.

Installation view, Mรฉmoire Matรฉrielle, 193 Gallery, Paris, 2026, showing works by Joana Choumali and Gaรซlle Choisne. Photo: Nicolas Brasseur. Courtesy of 193 Gallery.
Installation view, Mรฉmoire Matรฉrielle, 193 Gallery, Paris, 2026, showing works by Joana Choumali and Gaรซlle Choisne. Photo: Nicolas Brasseur. Courtesy of 193 Gallery.

Editorials

Mรฉmoire Matรฉrielleโ€: Can Materials Hold Memory? The exhibition at 193 Gallery in Paris rethinks memory as a material process through works that explore preservation, repair, transmission and colonial afterlives.

Abuja International Photo Festival, 2025. Photo: Abuja International Photo Festival. Courtesy Osaze Efe.
Abuja International Photo Festival, 2025. Photo: Abuja International Photo Festival. Courtesy Osaze Efe.

Editorials

As the festival marks its 10th edition, its founder and creative director reflects on a decade of Nigerian photography and the questions raised by artificial intelligence.

Installation view, AKAA 2026, Le Carreau du Temple, Paris. Photo: ยฉ Lionel Belluteau / @unoeilquitraine.
Installation view, AKAA 2026, Le Carreau du Temple, Paris. Photo: ยฉ Lionel Belluteau / @unoeilquitraine.

Art News

Art Basel Paris closed two days early while AKAA ended yesterday. ART X Lagos and the Lagos Biennial open next.

Installation view of ARTBASEโ€™s presentation of Aliou Diack, AKAA 2026, Le Carreau du Temple, Paris. Courtesy ARTBASE.
Installation view of ARTBASEโ€™s presentation of Aliou Diack, AKAA 2026, Le Carreau du Temple, Paris. Courtesy ARTBASE.

Art News

Four standout gallery presentations at AKAA 2026, from Ernest Breleurโ€™s collages of the human body to Maya Inรจs Touamโ€™s richly composed still lifes.

Sitor Senghor, artistic director of AKAA. ยฉ Tous droits rรฉservรฉs. Courtesy of AKAA.
Sitor Senghor, artistic director of AKAA. ยฉ Tous droits rรฉservรฉs. Courtesy of AKAA.

In Conversation

The fairโ€™s artistic director on pairing photography with works on paper, how Paris differs from London, and why an artistโ€™s first gesture on paper matters.

A visitor in the Design + Innovation Exhibition at the National Theatre, Lagos, during Design Week Lagos 2026. Photo: Chibuzo Emmanuel for Art Report Africa.
A visitor in the Design + Innovation Exhibition at the National Theatre, Lagos, during Design Week Lagos 2026. Photo: Chibuzo Emmanuel for Art Report Africa.

Art News

At Design Week Lagos, incisive speakers swapped the question of how African design reaches the world for a harder one: what it needs at home.

Installation view, Special Project by Tristan Hoare Gallery and Alexandra de Cadaval Art Projects, 1-54 London 2026, Somerset House. Photo: India Jane.
Installation view, Special Project by Tristan Hoare Gallery and Alexandra de Cadaval Art Projects, 1-54 London 2026, Somerset House. Photo: India Jane.

Art News

1-54, Frieze London and Frieze Masters have closed; Art Basel Paris and AKAA are open this weekend, with ART X Lagos and the Lagos Biennial to follow.

Ozong Agborsangaya-Fiteu, ร” Cameroon! Modern and Contemporary Art and Artists From 1925 to Now, 2026, front cover. Courtesy: 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair
Ozong Agborsangaya-Fiteu, ร” Cameroon! Modern and Contemporary Art and Artists From 1925 to Now, 2026, front cover. Courtesy: 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair

Art News

Conceived by the collector Ozong Agborsangaya-Fiteu, the 424-page volume documents a century of Cameroonian art and launched at 1-54 London.

Benedict Chukwukadibia Enwonwu M.B.E., Anyanwu, 1958. Gilt bronze, 219 x 77 x 30 cm (excluding base). Photo: Bonhams. Courtesy of Bonhams.
Benedict Chukwukadibia Enwonwu M.B.E., Anyanwu, 1958. Gilt bronze, 219 x 77 x 30 cm (excluding base). Photo: Bonhams. Courtesy of Bonhams.

Art News

The gilt-bronze sculpture sold at Bonhams in London for ยฃ602,100, including the buyerโ€™s premium.

Okiki Akinfe, Fame is a Gun, 2026. Oil on linen, 100 ร— 200 cm. Photo: Joanna Wilk. Courtesy of the artist and Ginny on Frederick.
Okiki Akinfe, Fame is a Gun, 2026. Oil on linen, 100 ร— 200 cm. Photo: Joanna Wilk. Courtesy of the artist and Ginny on Frederick.

Art News

British-Nigerian artist Okiki Akinfe won the ยฃ30,000 Dasha Shenkman Focus Fund prize at Frieze London. Here is what we know about her work and career so far.

Martin Wรถllenstein, Flowing Upstream, installation view, Edmond J. Safra Fountain Court, Somerset House. Presented by Perve Galeria.
Martin Wรถllenstein, Flowing Upstream, installation view, Edmond J. Safra Fountain Court, Somerset House. Presented by Perve Galeria.

Art News

Five artists at this yearโ€™s fair use clay to hold opposites: fragility and permanence, hidden labour and finished form, waste and value.

Cocoa farmers, Adumadum, Eastern Region, Ghana | Photo: Alfred Quartey | Courtesy of Selassie Atadika
Cocoa farmers, Adumadum, Eastern Region, Ghana | Photo: Alfred Quartey | Courtesy of Selassie Atadika

Art News

At 1-54, Selassie Atadikaโ€™s installation features a brass cocoa pod, farm scents and recordings of Ghanaian farmers.

Yinka Ilori | Photo: Kane Hulse
Yinka Ilori | Photo: Kane Hulse

Art News

The British-Nigerian artist staged "Chairman" in the North London neighbourhood where he grew up, with a Nigeria edition now under discussion for 2027. Interview and reporting by Tobi Alexandra Falade / 17 October 2026.

Sophie Okonedo as Clarissa in Clarissa, 2026 | Courtesy of [CREDIT: as supplied by DDA / Neon]
Sophie Okonedo as Clarissa in Clarissa, 2026 | Courtesy of [CREDIT: as supplied by DDA / Neon]

Art News

Arie and Chuko Esiri on a crooked mosaic, an improvised gesture and a house designed as its ownerโ€™s portrait.

Unathi Mkontoโ€™s Artist-to-Artist installation at Frieze London, 2026 | Photo: Stephen White & Co | Courtesy of the artist and Goodman Gallery
Unathi Mkontoโ€™s Artist-to-Artist installation at Frieze London, 2026 | Photo: Stephen White & Co | Courtesy of the artist and Goodman Gallery

Art News

Nominated by Yinka Shonibare for Friezeโ€™s Artist-to-Artist programme, the Cape Town-based artist wins the ยฃ10,000 Nicoletta Fiorucci Foundation Prize for a new presentation of beechwood sculptures.

Still from The Secret Lives of Baba Segiโ€™s Wives, 2026 | Courtesy of the BFI London Film Festival
Still from The Secret Lives of Baba Segiโ€™s Wives, 2026 | Courtesy of the BFI London Film Festival

In Conversation

Following its European premiere at the BFI London Film Festival, Daniel Oriahi discusses the demands of adapting Lola Shoneyinโ€™s novel for the screen and the complications of Nollywoodโ€™s storytelling heritage.

The shelf and empty chair in Where Is Dadiyata?, Gatefield Office, Abuja. Image courtesy of Goethe-Institut Nigeria.
The shelf and empty chair in Where Is Dadiyata?, Gatefield Office, Abuja. Image courtesy of Goethe-Institut Nigeria.

Editorials

In Abuja, a single open bookshelf is set against the quiet closure of the law. The staging is too sparse for its subject; the performance and the manuscript that travel with it are not.

Installation view, Frank Coffie, Between and Almost Far from Hard Walls, WorldFaze Art Practice, Accra, 2026.
Installation view, Frank Coffie, Between and Almost Far from Hard Walls, WorldFaze Art Practice, Accra, 2026.

In Conversation

In his first solo exhibition in Ghana, Frank Coffie builds paintings backwards โ€” yarn first, paint last โ€” from family memory, discarded fabric and pain.

Luke Agada in his studio. Photo: Robert Chase Heishman. Courtesy the artist.
Luke Agada in his studio. Photo: Robert Chase Heishman. Courtesy the artist.

In Conversation

In When the Center Holds, the Nigerian artist speaks with Sabo Kpade about suspension, memory, postcolonial thought, colour and why drawing becomes an x-ray into painting.

Jacqueline Suowari, a figurative artist, beside one of her drawings.  Courtesy Jacqueline Suowari
Jacqueline Suowari, a figurative artist, beside one of her drawings.  Courtesy Jacqueline Suowari

Editorials

Thread that turns into faces, bronze that becomes a crowd, ceramic coral clinging to a sunken object, a "painting" that turns out to be a quilt: the Nigerian artist Jacqueline Suowari takes us on a tour of the fair at the Javits Center in New York, pointing out the five works that rewarded her for stepping closer.

Installation view, Kerry James Marshall: The Histories, Musรฉe dโ€™Art Moderne de Paris, 2026, with Knowledge and Wonder (1995). ARTWORK ยฉ KERRY JAMES MARSHALL. PHOTO: NICOLAS BOREL ยฉ MUSร‰E Dโ€™ART MODERNE DE PARIS / PARIS MUSร‰ES.
Installation view, Kerry James Marshall: The Histories, Musรฉe dโ€™Art Moderne de Paris, 2026, with Knowledge and Wonder (1995). ARTWORK ยฉ KERRY JAMES MARSHALL. PHOTO: NICOLAS BOREL ยฉ MUSร‰E Dโ€™ART MODERNE DE PARIS / PARIS MUSร‰ES.

What's On

In Lagos, Victoria Ndubuisi and Paulcy Odama turn bodies into landscape and monumental architecture into something fragile. In Abuja, Dotun Popoola bends discarded metal until it holds movement and likeness. In Paris, four decades of Kerry James Marshall place Black figures at the centre of history painting. Three shows about what a surface can be made to carry.

Portrait of Emma Prempeh. Photo: Nana Ampofo. Courtesy of dot.ateliers
Portrait of Emma Prempeh. Photo: Nana Ampofo. Courtesy of dot.ateliers

In Conversation

The painter on returning to Accra, colliding London with Obuasi, and why she lets a painting go above 90 percent.

Chika Idu in front of his paintings in Pure Water. Courtesy SMO Contemporary Art.
Chika Idu in front of his paintings in Pure Water. Courtesy SMO Contemporary Art.

In Conversation

Recorded at ARAMI, Lagos, during a press preview for Pure Water, Chika Iduโ€™s solo exhibition with SMO Contemporary Art. In conversation with Sunshine Alaibe, Idu traces water through childhood drought, environmental precarity, the Atlantic slave trade and the changing representation of women in his work. By Sunshine Alaibe Edited by Sabo Kpade 17 September 2026. This conversation has been condensed, reordered and edited for clarity.

Installation view, Sungi Mlengeya, Earth and Sky, Les filles du calvaire, Paris, 2026. ยฉ Sungi Mlengeya. Courtesy of Galerie Les filles du calvaire, Afriart Gallery and the artist.
Installation view, Sungi Mlengeya, Earth and Sky, Les filles du calvaire, Paris, 2026. ยฉ Sungi Mlengeya. Courtesy of Galerie Les filles du calvaire, Afriart Gallery and the artist.

What's On

A Tanzanian painter turns white space into a field of memory; a Paris gallery fills with flea-market talismans. In Lagos, one group show tests affinities across generations while another asks how traces survive in material form. Four exhibitions worth seeing this week.

Tschabalala Self's Lady in Blue unveiled on Trafalgar Squareโ€™s Fourth Plinth in London, 2026. Photo: Jeff Spicer, PA Media Assignments.
Tschabalala Self's Lady in Blue unveiled on Trafalgar Squareโ€™s Fourth Plinth in London, 2026. Photo: Jeff Spicer, PA Media Assignments.

Art News

Tschabalala Selfโ€™s Lady In Blue has arrived at Londonโ€™s Trafalgar Square, transforming the iconic Fourth Plinth with a monumental portrait of the contemporary woman.

Bartheฬleฬmy Toguo, The Nomadic Studio, Galerie Lelong, Paris, 2026. Courtesy Galerie Lelong (1)
Bartheฬleฬmy Toguo, The Nomadic Studio, Galerie Lelong, Paris, 2026. Courtesy Galerie Lelong (1)

What's On

From Ruth Ige and Chika Idu in Lagos to Barthรฉlรฉmy Toguo and Ladji Diaby in Paris, the exhibitions worth making time for now.

Emma Prempeh, One world for another, 2026. Oil, acrylic and schlag metal on canvas, diptych. Overall unframed: 200 ร— 300 cm. Photo: Nii-Odzenma. Courtesy the artist and Perrotin.
Emma Prempeh, One world for another, 2026. Oil, acrylic and schlag metal on canvas, diptych. Overall unframed: 200 ร— 300 cm. Photo: Nii-Odzenma. Courtesy the artist and Perrotin.

What's On

This week: grief and inheritance in Lagos, material memory and belonging in Paris, and Ndidi Dikeโ€™s economies of extraction in Stockholm.

Botswana-born artist Kelebogile Marope. Picture: (Supplied)
Botswana-born artist Kelebogile Marope. Picture: (Supplied)

Art News

History was made this year at FNB Art Joburg. Sculptor Kelebogile Marope has been announced as the winner of the 2026 FNB Art Prize โ€” becoming the first artist from Botswana to ever take home the award since its inception nineteen editions ago.

Gabriel Selassie Tsagli, Rave, 2026. [wall colour and oil on canvas, 240 x 360 cm] Courtesy the artist and Gallery 1957.
Gabriel Selassie Tsagli, Rave, 2026. [wall colour and oil on canvas, 240 x 360 cm] Courtesy the artist and Gallery 1957.

What's On

At Nubuke Foundation domestic objects turn into archives of labour and belonging, Gabriel Selassie Tsagli sets the choreography of the rave against private grief and Frank Coffie makes yarn do two entirely different jobs in one room.

Gabriel Selassie Tsagli, Kafui, 2026, Pastel and oil on canvas, 200 x 160 cm. Courtesy of the Artist and Gallery 1957. Photo Nii Odzenma
Gabriel Selassie Tsagli, Kafui, 2026, Pastel and oil on canvas, 200 x 160 cm. Courtesy of the Artist and Gallery 1957. Photo Nii Odzenma

In Conversation

Gabriel Selassie Tsagli left Ghana at eleven and lived in Germany for twenty-six years. He returned to Accra in 2024 and made the paintings in Son of Kafuiโ€”his first proper solo exhibition at homeโ€”in a single stretch between February and this summer. He does not use a colour palette, works on many canvases at once, and calls the show a graduation. This conversation was recorded in Accra in August 2026 and has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.

Ngozi-Omeje Ezema, Aga ekworo ngbagbu, 2026, Ceramics, acrylic, monofilament, fishing line, metal, 150 x 30 x 150 cm | 59 x 11.8 x 59 in. Courtey the artist and kรณ.
Ngozi-Omeje Ezema, Aga ekworo ngbagbu, 2026, Ceramics, acrylic, monofilament, fishing line, metal, 150 x 30 x 150 cm | 59 x 11.8 x 59 in. Courtey the artist and kรณ.

What's On

Stephen Tayo finds social choreography in the movements around worship, Ameh Egwuh builds a language from yellow bodies and white birds, and Ngozi-Omeje Ezema discovers what a vessel can hold after it breaks.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa
Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Art News

Appointment of Elvira Dyangani Ose as the artistic director of Zeitz Musuem of Contemporary Art, Cape Town. The choice that signals both continuity and a widening of horizons.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa
Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

In Conversation

Orry Shenjobi on her Venice residency: raffia craftwork, studio life, and what she learned โ€” with takeaways for artists eyeing their own residency.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa
Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

What's On

For nearly a decade, Yinka Ilori has been known as an artist of colour and community โ€” the designer behind playful, technicolour public interventions across London and beyond.

Yinka Shonibare | Material (SG) V, 2025 | Steel armature with hand painted glass reinforced polyester cast tripod and theodolite  Work: 400 x 200 x 200 cm (157.5 x 78.7 x 78.7 in.)  Unique
Yinka Shonibare | Material (SG) V, 2025 | Steel armature with hand painted glass reinforced polyester cast tripod and theodolite  Work: 400 x 200 x 200 cm (157.5 x 78.7 x 78.7 in.)  Unique

What's On

From London to Lagos, New York to the French Riviera, African and diasporic artists are commanding some of the most talked-about gallery walls this summer. Here's where to go, who to see, and what to expect before the doors close.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa
Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

What's On

Two Galleries, Four Decades, One Artist Running Out of Time to See in Lagos

NCMM Bilateral Agreement ceremony  | Courtesy of NCMM
NCMM Bilateral Agreement ceremony  | Courtesy of NCMM

Editorials

Switzerland's return of eighteen Benin Bronzes and four Ikom monoliths is a milestone in a restitution movement that is starting to outpace the institutions meant to receive it.

Goethe-Institut Dakar. Photo by Iwan Baan.
Goethe-Institut Dakar. Photo by Iwan Baan.

Art News

The Goethe-Institut has operated for more than 75 years without ever commissioning a building of its own. It chose Dakar, and a Burkinabรจ architect, to break that streak.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa
Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Reports

The art world is accustomed to cycles of boom and bust, but the first half of 2024 offered a particularly vivid tableau of contrasting fortunes and unexpected shifts. As galleries, auction houses, and fairs grappled with uncertaintyโ€”from geopolitical tensions to fluctuating interest ratesโ€”several key developments stood out, reshaping the landscape of the art market.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa
Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

In Conversation

Ralph Waldo Emerson, in his essay "Society and Solitude," wrote, "We do not believe our own thought; we must serve somebody; we must quote somebody; we dote on the old and the distant; we are tickled by great names; we quote their opinions; we cite their laws." For Ikechukwu Nduka, he stands as the antithesis of the society Emerson critiques. He defied societal expectations and familial disapproval to pursue his passion for art, successfully contending the dependence on the opinions of others. "They say art is therapy, but while creative minds like us are creating this 'therapy', I think we need it the most, or rather we need it first." He aptly expressed the stark pressure.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa
Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Editorials

Dianna Offor, nicknamed "God's Artist," is a Nigerian-born visual artist, whose work is dedicated to expressing the essence of God and importance of faith in todays society. Currently living in Irelandโ€“where she recently acquired a diploma in studio art painting, Offor has spent the last three years depicting the theme of Hope and Love through her biblical abstract paintings.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa
Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Editorials

Last week, Art Report Africa served as the official media partner for New Narratives and Singular Communication in Arts Journalism: The Museo del Prado Experience โ€” a two-day international workshop held at the Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art, Pan-Atlantic University, Lagos, organised in partnership with the Embassy of Spain in Nigeria and Casa รfrica through its #Periodismoรfrica programme.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa
Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Editorials

On 14 June 2026, the Obama Presidential Center unveiled "The Obamas: Springing Forth" โ€” a large-scale work by Njideka Akunyili Crosby, rendered in acrylic, coloured pencils, charcoal, and transfers on paper, measuring 108 by 120 inches. It now hangs in the Hope and Change Lobby of the museum's main building, free and open to the public, before the Centre's official grand opening on Juneteenth. It is the first official portrait of the former President and First Lady together.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa
Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

What's On

London Gallery Weekend returns for its sixth edition this 5โ€“7 June, bringing together over 120 galleries across the capital for three days of exhibitions, talks, and events โ€” all free and open to the public. For its Co-Directors Jeremy Epstein and Sarah Rustin, the 2026 edition is "a convening moment that is both local and global in its scope and audience, reflecting the year-on-year revitalisation and evolution of the capital's contemporary art scene."

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa
Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Editorials

The 2026 Venice Biennale is, on paper, the most African edition in the exhibition's 131-year history. But what does that actually mean โ€” and who does it serve?

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa
Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Art News

Tiwani Contemporary is closing its London doors. The gallery, which has operated out of 24 Cork Street in Mayfair since 2023 will shut its London space after already pausing operations at its Lagos outpost on Victoria Island.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa
Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Art News

Polish philanthropist and art advocate Omenaa Mensah, of Ghanaian heritage, has been invited to join the prestigious Africa Acquisitions Committee (AAC) at Tate, one of the worldโ€™s most influential cultural institutions. Her appointment not only marks a milestone as the first Polish member of the Committee but also underscores Warsawโ€™s growing significance on the global art world.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa
Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Art News

This November, Lagos will host a milestone edition of ART X Lagos โ€” the fair turns ten. Since its founding in 2016 by Tokini Petersideโ€‘Schwebig, ART X Lagos has grown into West Africaโ€™s premier art-fair and a benchmark for contemporary African art.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa
Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

What's On

On October 12, 2025, the Ecobank Pan African Centre in Lagos opens its doors to Fela Kuti: Afrobeat Rebellion, marking the return of an exhibition that celebrates one of Africaโ€™s most influential cultural figures. Originally curated by the Philharmonie de Paris in 2022, the exhibition is now reimagined for its Nigerian debut by the A Whitespace Creative Arts (AWCA) Foundation, with support from the French Embassy in Nigeria and the Kuti family.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa
Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

What's On

The Nigerian art landscape welcomed a major new institution with the launch of ADEGBOLA Gallery in Victoria Island, Lagos. Founded by lawyer and cultural entrepreneur Kayode Adegbola, the gallery officially opened its doors on October 1, 2025, Nigeria's Independence Day. The space has been established with the ambition of creating a new home for serious curatorial work that is deeply anchored in local context while maintaining global relevance.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa
Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Editorials

The Pavilion of Zimbabwe announces its participation in the 61st International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia, opening in April 2026 under the artistic direction of Adriano Pedrosa and the central exhibition In Minor Keys.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa
Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Art News

The UK government has acquired Journaliste (2023), a powerful mixed-media animation by British-Congolese artist Djofray Makumbu, for the nationโ€™s public art collection, marking a major milestone in the artistโ€™s rising career.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa
Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Art News

In the latest twist in the ever-blurring lines between internet virality and art world credibility, American artist KAWS has publicly denied any collaboration with London-based Nigerian artist and designer Slawn, following a now-viral post shared by Slawn suggesting a joint project between the two.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa
Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

What's On

A groundbreaking exhibition explores photographyโ€™s role in shaping Pan-African identity, solidarity, and political thought The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) has announced a landmark exhibition titled Ideas of Africa: Portraiture and Political Imagination, opening December 14, 2025, and running through July 25, 2026.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa
Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

What's On

Southern Guild is set to make its third consecutive appearance at The Armory Show, presenting a powerful new body of work at Booth 117 of the Javits Center. The presentation, on view during the VIP Preview on September 4 and to the public from September 5โ€“7, will feature new paintings, sculpture, and photography from a roster of seminal artists from South Africa, Morocco, Benin, and Nigeria.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa
Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Editorials

There's a voice that lives inside us, often waiting in silence. It's a part of ourselves that we sometimes bury, a quiet shadow that only finds expression when we allow it to. Yusuff Aina's latest character, "Voied," is a compelling new light for this hidden self.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa
Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Editorials

In response to a growing chorus in the global art world declaring that โ€œBlack figuration is over,โ€ Oโ€™DA Art Galleryโ€™s latest exhibition, Black Figuration is Alive and Well, offers a firm and timely rebuttal. Bringing together a dynamic group of contemporary artists working across painting, sculpture, photography, collage, and digital media, the exhibition argues for figuration not as trend or aesthetic repetition, but as a vital language of presence, imagination, and agency.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa
Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Art News

The Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) will officially open its new museum campus in Benin City, Nigeria, to the public on Tuesday, 11 November 2025. The opening marks a major milestone in the institutionโ€™s vision to build world-class infrastructure for the research, preservation, and presentation of West African art and heritage.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa
Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Editorials

In the nuanced world of art collecting, the process is often as significant as the acquisition itself. Whether motivated by aesthetic appreciation, investment potential, or cultural enrichment, collectors must ensure that their decisions reflect both their personal values and long-term vision.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa
Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Reports

In April 2025, Sotheby's quietly absorbed its dedicated Modern & Contemporary African Art department into the broader contemporary sales operation. A year on, we need to talk about what that decision actually means โ€” and stop accepting the spin.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa
Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

What's On

Victoria Ndubuisiโ€™s distinctive approach to painting captures attention in a remarkable way. In her ongoing solo exhibition titled "แปŒmแปฅgwo," she employs a unique marbling technique for the backgrounds of her artworks, created through the dynamic act of performance.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa
Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Art News

The upcoming Aichi Triennale 2025, set from September 13 to November 30 in Japan, promises a reformative global dialogue on contemporary art. Under the evocative theme A Time Between Ashes and Rosesโ€”a nod to Adonisโ€™s 1970 poemโ€”the festival goes beyond mere traditional national narratives, inviting diverse perspectives that reimagine our connection to time, nature, and society. Among the 60 selected artists, a powerful contingent from Africa brings distinct voices and innovative practices to the international stage. Hereโ€™s a closer look at five remarkable African artists featured in this year's Triennale.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa
Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Art News

Art Basel has unveiled the lineup for its 2025 edition in Basel, Switzerland, set to take place from June 19โ€“22, with preview days on June 17โ€“18. The fair, widely regarded as a bellwether for the global art market, will host 291 galleries, including major blue-chip establishments and an expanded focus on ultra-contemporary art through a newly introduced sectionโ€”Premiere.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa
Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Editorials

For the first time in art market history, female African artists collectively surpassed their male counterparts in auction sales in 2023โ€”a development initially dismissed as an anomaly. Yet, the trend persisted into 2024, with women artists securing a commanding 52.8% share of total African art sales.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa
Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Art News

Art Basel has unveiled its latest initiativeโ€”the Art Basel Awardsโ€”a groundbreaking recognition platform set to spotlight artists, curators, and influential figures who shape the global art landscape. This ambitious program underscores Art Baselโ€™s growing commitment to acknowledging excellence and fostering innovation across artistic disciplines.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa
Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Editorials

At a time when conversations about diversity, representation, and identity are more important than ever, Bozarโ€™s latest exhibition When We See Us offers a powerful exploration into how we perceive ourselves and others.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa
Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Reports

Imagine buying a masterpiece with Bitcoin or Ether. No, it's not a dream โ€” itโ€™s the future of art, and it's happening now. Sothebyโ€™s, one of the world's most prestigious auction houses, has announced it will accept cryptocurrency payments at its upcoming โ€œOriginsโ€ auction in Saudi Arabia.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa
Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Editorials

Curated by Osei Bonsu, curator of international art at Tate Modern, and Cale Garrido, guest curator at the C/O Berlin Foundation, A World in Common presents twenty-three African and African diaspora artists from different generations and geographical contexts - with works by Kelani Abass, Atong Atem, Malala Andrialavidrazana, Edson Chagas, Kudzanai Chiurai, Rotimi Fani-Kayode, Maรฏmouna Guerresi, Hassan Hajjaj, Dรฉlio Jasse, Julianknxx, Samson Kambalu, Kiripi Katembo, Lebohang Kganye, Mรกrio Macilau, Sabelo Mlangeni, Santu Mofokeng, Fabrice Monteiro, Aรฏda Muluneh, Wura-Natasha Ogunji, George Osodi, Dawit L. Petros, Zina Saro-Wiwa, and Khadija Saye.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa
Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

In Conversation

Windsor Gallery is becoming a prominent player in the West African art scene, expanding its influence from Lagos to Abuja and Abidjan in just a few short years. This growth signals not only the gallery's ambition but also its commitment to creating a platform for contemporary African art.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa
Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

In Conversation

In Ethiopia, women vendors are often overlooked and marginalized, despite being the backbone of the market. Their struggles are perpetuated by societal perceptions of their stature. Challenging these norms, Tadesse Mesfin's solo exhibition, "Where We Coalesce," currently on view at Addis Fine Art (until November 30, 2024), seeks to reframe the narrative surrounding Ethiopian women.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa
Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

In Conversation

In the midst of shifting societal norms and increasing complexity around identity, "Freedom in Multitudes" asks important questions about Black and African identity. Through the work of nine international artists, this 1897 Gallery exhibition explores the nuances of self-expression.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa
Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Editorials

As September gets to its mid point, now is a good time to look at what October promises for the art world, with fairs and auctions spanning continents, spotlighting both emerging and established talent.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa
Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Reports

Sothebyโ€™s will soon host its latest Modern and Contemporary African Art auction in London, marking another significant milestone for the global appreciation of the continent's art. Scheduled for September 27, 2024, at its New Bond Street galleries, this auction will bring under the hammer a diverse selection of works, from the stalwarts of 20th-century African modernism to some of the most exciting contemporary names on the international stage.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa
Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Art News

The British-Nigerian artist and designer Yinka Ilori has transformed Sothebyโ€™s cafรฉ on New Bond Street with his distinctive style, infusing the space with vibrant adire motifs, bold symbols, and colorful furnishings. The installation, titled "Pride is Within My Story," runs until October 31, and celebrates the diverse talents that have made London their home while highlighting the city's inclusive artistic community.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa
Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Podcasts

On this episode we speak to Graphic Designer and Brand communications expert, Olumide Omololu, on Tips on how to brand your creative business! We look at how to be an authentic designer, understanding creative markets and conceptualising your brand image in todays digital age.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa
Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Podcasts

On this episode we speak to curator and founder of Wunika Mukan Gallery, Wunika Mukan on her journey into the Art Market and navigating creative industries in a time where Art was not a valued asset. Wunika is the founder of Wunika Mukan Gallery, formerly known as Pacers Gallery and is also the director of the Womenโ€™s Film Club.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa
Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Art News

An African art collection is once again set for auction after its owner, Sam Njunuri, filed for bankruptcy earlier this year. The collection, comprising over 1,000 pieces including sculptures and monuments, has been at the centre of a legal dispute dating back to 2015.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa
Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Editorials

Imagine growing up surrounded by art that wasn't just on the walls, but woven into the very fabric of Lagos. That was the world of Mrs Rayo Anthonio, daughter of the legendary Yusuf Grillo.Yusuf Grillo's story is one of dedication and quiet revolution.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa
Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Podcasts

In this episode we speak to curator and founder of Phรญlos, Asibi Danjuma on inventing new strategies for business in the African Art Market and navigating the economical downturn. PHILOS is a framework that merges fine Art and literature in exploring the profundity of the African continent based in Lagos, Nigeria.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa
Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Podcasts

On this episode we have a special interview with curator, writer and photographer, Aisha Aliyu-Bima, who opens her largest curatorial project next week at the Yemisi Shyllon Museum in Lagos, Nigeria.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa
Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Reports

Jean-Michel Basquiat's acclaimed 1982 triptych "Portrait of the Artist as a Young Derelict" is preparing to hit the auction block once again, this time at a Sotheby's modern and contemporary sale in London later this month. This will be the second time the work has been auctioned in the past three years. Nonetheless, the work appears to have substantially declined in value since its last outing at auction just two years ago.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa
Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Podcasts

Art Professionals Africa Unplugged is now available on all podcast platforms including, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and IHeart Radio! On this episode, we speak to Designer, & Curator Olufisayo Bakare, Olufisayo Bakare, on her journey to becoming a curator, the responsibilities of holding such a position and the future of the African Art Market as it relies on specific industry stakeholders.on the intricacies of the curatorial practice

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa
Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Reports

The auction, held on 13 May 2024, in New York, featured works by both emerging and established artists, including Njideka Akunyili Crosby, Toyin Ojih Odutola, Takako Yamaguchi, Tracey Emin, Kerry James Marshall, George Condo, Adrian Ghenie, Jacqueline Humphries, Christina Quarles, Jadรฉ Fadojutimi, Avery Singer, Cecily Brown, Jeffrey Gibson, Lisa Yuskavage, and Lynette Yiadom-Boakye. The total auction sales came to $32.7 million from an estimated $24.15โ€“34.60 million.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa
Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Reports

Three paintings by Jean-Michel Basquiat, once owned by the late Italian anthropologist and editor Francesco Pellizzi, will be offered for sale at Phillips this May. The works, which have not been on the market for decades, are expected to fetch high prices.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa
Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Podcasts

On this episode of โ€œArt Professionals Africa Unpluggedโ€, we speak to Founder of Oโ€™DA Art & Obida Collective Obida Obioha on The Art of Collecting in Nigeria: Art investment and tips on building a diverse collection.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa
Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Podcasts

On this episode, we speak to Founder and Creative director of Retro Africa, Dolly Kola-Balogun.On this episode, we look at the intricacies of the art market from a Nigerian lens. In the midst of a global economic downturn, inflation and political turbulence across several African nations, we look at the strategies and business practices that she adopts to balance and build a successful organization.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa
Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

In Conversation

On this podcast, we delve into the stories of Key Industry Players in different art ecosystems on the African continent. We speak to Gallerists, Art Historians, Curators, Advisors & Art Directors to get insight on their markets domestically.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa
Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

In Conversation

Within Nigeriaโ€™s creative scene, Olufisayo Bakare stands as a multifaceted force. Born in Lagos to a family with a rich art and design heritage, her interests took her through the intricacies of various industries. From aspiring artist to entrepreneur and curator, Olufisayo is the visionary behind the brand, interior Living (Intlvng) and The Yellow of Lagos.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa
Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Editorials

Anjola Awosika gives insight to his mission for this series: "I'm on a mission to unfold the vibrant African narrative through the lens of food and interior photography. I thrive on encapsulating the richness of our diverse culture in every shot, whether it's the savory essence of our cuisine or the allure of stunning interior spaces. Join me in this exhilarating journey at the core of my media agency, where we celebrate the beauty of African life through the captivating art of photography."

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa
Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Editorials

Debuting this month, Anjola Awosika announces "ร€njolรก", an Interior Design project celebrating African culture in African homes. Looking at how functionality, comfort and Art coalesce in living spaces, Awosika is determined to document the intricate details that contribute to the beauty of specific African homes.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa
Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

What's On

Oโ€™DA Art is pleased to present, Walk like a Champion, Abe Odedinaโ€™s first solo exhibition in Lagos, Nigeria. This new body of work is a testament to this special gathering and the thrilling opportunity to finally exhibit in Nigeria again and most importantly, to make a show for his Mother ahead of the centenary of her birth. Its title, that Odedina attests, โ€˜is not about swagger. Itโ€™s not about strutting around. Itโ€™s about what you think a champion is? Itโ€™s about being undeniably true to yourself. When we say โ€œwalkโ€, itโ€™s in a more important sense than one foot in front of the other. Itโ€™s how you go through life. Itโ€™s the Big Walk.โ€™

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa
Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Art News

First major UK solo exhibition of new and recent works by Lagos-based artist Nengi Omuku, exploring her profound relationship with the natural world.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa
Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Art News

Opening on 9th Ocotober, 2023, โ€˜PORTRAITS FOR ENGLISH TO SEEโ€™, presents six new works that are part of Renรฉ Tavaresโ€™ most recent and iconic painting series โ€“ โ€œPortraits for English to Seeโ€ and โ€œCotton People Reloadedโ€.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa
Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Art News

Art on the Underground, London, United Kingdom is set to present an exciting seminal performative work, Declaration of Independence, featuring multifaceted London-based artist, educator, and researcher, Barby Asante. This newly commissioned iteration will take place at Stratford Tube station on Sunday 17 September 2023.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa
Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Reports

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has announced the indictment of Soufiane Oulahyane, a Moroccan national, for allegedly stealing $450,000 worth of cryptocurrencies and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) from unsuspecting users of the popular NFT marketplace OpenSea.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa
Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Art News

Art Basel Hong Kong, will welcome a new participant this year: Retro Africa, a contemporary art gallery based in Abuja, Nigeria. This will be the gallery's first appearance at the prestigious fair, where it will present a solo show by Nigerian-American artist Victor Ehikhamenor.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa
Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Art News

The EMOWAA (Edo Museum of West African Art) Trust has announced the appointments of two distinguished art pioneers to strengthen its focus on modern and contemporary art. Professor Chika Okeke-Agulu, a Nigerian art historian and professor at Princeton University and Oxford University, will serve as Senior Advisor, Modern and Contemporary Art. Aindrea Emelife, a Nigerian-British curator and Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, will be the new Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa
Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Art News

What does it mean to be green in a world that has been shaped by colonialism and capitalism? How can we rethink our relationship with nature and each other in the face of ecological crisis and social injustice? How can we reclaim and celebrate the diverse and sustainable ways of living that have been erased or marginalized by the dominant narratives of progress and development?

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa
Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Art News

'El Anatsui is responsible for some of the most unique and unforgettable sculptures in recent times and we are delighted that he will tackle the Turbine Hall this autumn for the annual Hyundai Commission,' said Frances Morris, Director of Tate Modern.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa
Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Art News

In a time where diversity and inclusion are becoming more important in the art world, the exhibition, In the Black Fantastic, is a timely and impactful exhibition that spotlights Black African Contemporary artists. Curated by Ghanaian-British Writer & Curator, Ekow Eshun, the exhibition was initially held at the Hayward Gallery in London where thousands of spectators flocked to view the work in its entirety. As a result , the exhibition has now been reopened at the Kunsthal Museum in the Netherlands.

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

The Art Report Africa Guide to Lagos Art Week Alternatives

Editorials

From theatre and dance to literary gatherings, experimental architecture and artistsโ€™ studios, the Art Report Africa team shares what they would make time for.

Shalom Esene

,

Edward Saidi Tingatinga, Untitled (Landscape with Lion and Bird), 1971. Enamel on board. 58.5 x 58.5 cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa.
Edward Saidi Tingatinga, Untitled (Landscape with Lion and Bird), 1971. Enamel on board. 58.5 x 58.5 cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa.

Art Auction East Africa Achieves 90% Sell-Through, with More Than Half of Works Exceeding Estimates

Art News

The Nairobi-based auction generated KES 46.3 million, with works by Edward Saidi Tingatinga and Peterson Kamwathi among those selling above their estimates.

Shalom Esene

,

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa
Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Art Auction East Africa Expands Its Reach for 14th Annual Sale

Art News

The Nairobi-based auction will feature 68 modern and contemporary works on 28 October by artists from nine countries, including Angola, Mozambique and Nigeria.

Shalom Esene

,

Installation view, Mรฉmoire Matรฉrielle, 193 Gallery, Paris, 2026, showing works by Joana Choumali and Gaรซlle Choisne. Photo: Nicolas Brasseur. Courtesy of 193 Gallery.
Installation view, Mรฉmoire Matรฉrielle, 193 Gallery, Paris, 2026, showing works by Joana Choumali and Gaรซlle Choisne. Photo: Nicolas Brasseur. Courtesy of 193 Gallery.

โ€œMรฉmoire Matรฉrielleโ€: Can Materials Hold Memory?

Editorials

Mรฉmoire Matรฉrielleโ€: Can Materials Hold Memory? The exhibition at 193 Gallery in Paris rethinks memory as a material process through works that explore preservation, repair, transmission and colonial afterlives.

Nana Poulot

,

Abuja International Photo Festival, 2025. Photo: Abuja International Photo Festival. Courtesy Osaze Efe.
Abuja International Photo Festival, 2025. Photo: Abuja International Photo Festival. Courtesy Osaze Efe.

Abuja International Photo Festival 2026: Osaze Efe Wants You to Look Beyond the Photographs

Editorials

As the festival marks its 10th edition, its founder and creative director reflects on a decade of Nigerian photography and the questions raised by artificial intelligence.

Shalom Esene

,

Installation view, AKAA 2026, Le Carreau du Temple, Paris. Photo: ยฉ Lionel Belluteau / @unoeilquitraine.
Installation view, AKAA 2026, Le Carreau du Temple, Paris. Photo: ยฉ Lionel Belluteau / @unoeilquitraine.

Art Basel Paris Closed Early; AKAA Ended Yesterday, Lagos Is Next

Art News

Art Basel Paris closed two days early while AKAA ended yesterday. ART X Lagos and the Lagos Biennial open next.

Shalom Esene

,

Installation view of ARTBASEโ€™s presentation of Aliou Diack, AKAA 2026, Le Carreau du Temple, Paris. Courtesy ARTBASE.
Installation view of ARTBASEโ€™s presentation of Aliou Diack, AKAA 2026, Le Carreau du Temple, Paris. Courtesy ARTBASE.

Four Standout Booths at AKAA

Art News

Four standout gallery presentations at AKAA 2026, from Ernest Breleurโ€™s collages of the human body to Maya Inรจs Touamโ€™s richly composed still lifes.

Nana Poulot

,

Sitor Senghor, artistic director of AKAA. ยฉ Tous droits rรฉservรฉs. Courtesy of AKAA.
Sitor Senghor, artistic director of AKAA. ยฉ Tous droits rรฉservรฉs. Courtesy of AKAA.

โ€œDrawing Is Not a Minor Art Formโ€: Sitor Senghor on AKAA 2026

In Conversation

The fairโ€™s artistic director on pairing photography with works on paper, how Paris differs from London, and why an artistโ€™s first gesture on paper matters.

Nana Poulot

,

A visitor in the Design + Innovation Exhibition at the National Theatre, Lagos, during Design Week Lagos 2026. Photo: Chibuzo Emmanuel for Art Report Africa.
A visitor in the Design + Innovation Exhibition at the National Theatre, Lagos, during Design Week Lagos 2026. Photo: Chibuzo Emmanuel for Art Report Africa.

On Day 2 of Design Week Lagos, Africaโ€™s Relationship with the World Came into Sharp Focus

Art News

At Design Week Lagos, incisive speakers swapped the question of how African design reaches the world for a harder one: what it needs at home.

Chibuzo Emmanuel

,

Installation view, Special Project by Tristan Hoare Gallery and Alexandra de Cadaval Art Projects, 1-54 London 2026, Somerset House. Photo: India Jane.
Installation view, Special Project by Tristan Hoare Gallery and Alexandra de Cadaval Art Projects, 1-54 London 2026, Somerset House. Photo: India Jane.

Londonโ€™s Three Fairs Have Closed; Paris Is Open and Lagos Is Next

Art News

1-54, Frieze London and Frieze Masters have closed; Art Basel Paris and AKAA are open this weekend, with ART X Lagos and the Lagos Biennial to follow.

Sabo Kpade

,

Ozong Agborsangaya-Fiteu, ร” Cameroon! Modern and Contemporary Art and Artists From 1925 to Now, 2026, front cover. Courtesy: 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair
Ozong Agborsangaya-Fiteu, ร” Cameroon! Modern and Contemporary Art and Artists From 1925 to Now, 2026, front cover. Courtesy: 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair

More Than 170 Cameroonian Artists Feature in New โ€œร” Cameroon!โ€ Art Book

Art News

Conceived by the collector Ozong Agborsangaya-Fiteu, the 424-page volume documents a century of Cameroonian art and launched at 1-54 London.

Shalom Esene

,

Benedict Chukwukadibia Enwonwu M.B.E., Anyanwu, 1958. Gilt bronze, 219 x 77 x 30 cm (excluding base). Photo: Bonhams. Courtesy of Bonhams.
Benedict Chukwukadibia Enwonwu M.B.E., Anyanwu, 1958. Gilt bronze, 219 x 77 x 30 cm (excluding base). Photo: Bonhams. Courtesy of Bonhams.

Ben Enwonwuโ€™s โ€œAnyanwuโ€ Sets New Auction Record

Art News

The gilt-bronze sculpture sold at Bonhams in London for ยฃ602,100, including the buyerโ€™s premium.

Shalom Esene

,

Okiki Akinfe, Fame is a Gun, 2026. Oil on linen, 100 ร— 200 cm. Photo: Joanna Wilk. Courtesy of the artist and Ginny on Frederick.
Okiki Akinfe, Fame is a Gun, 2026. Oil on linen, 100 ร— 200 cm. Photo: Joanna Wilk. Courtesy of the artist and Ginny on Frederick.

Everything We Know About Okiki Akinfe, Winner of the Inaugural Dasha Shenkman Focus Fund Prize at Frieze London

Art News

British-Nigerian artist Okiki Akinfe won the ยฃ30,000 Dasha Shenkman Focus Fund prize at Frieze London. Here is what we know about her work and career so far.

Shalom Esene

,

Martin Wรถllenstein, Flowing Upstream, installation view, Edmond J. Safra Fountain Court, Somerset House. Presented by Perve Galeria.
Martin Wรถllenstein, Flowing Upstream, installation view, Edmond J. Safra Fountain Court, Somerset House. Presented by Perve Galeria.

At 1-54, Clay Pulls Against Itself

Art News

Five artists at this yearโ€™s fair use clay to hold opposites: fragility and permanence, hidden labour and finished form, waste and value.

Lauren Demir

,

Cocoa farmers, Adumadum, Eastern Region, Ghana | Photo: Alfred Quartey | Courtesy of Selassie Atadika
Cocoa farmers, Adumadum, Eastern Region, Ghana | Photo: Alfred Quartey | Courtesy of Selassie Atadika

A Ghanaian Cocoa Installation at 1-54 Tells the Story of How Raw Materials Become Luxury Goods

Art News

At 1-54, Selassie Atadikaโ€™s installation features a brass cocoa pod, farm scents and recordings of Ghanaian farmers.

Shalom Esene

,

Yinka Ilori | Photo: Kane Hulse
Yinka Ilori | Photo: Kane Hulse

How Yinka Ilori Marked Frieze Week Away from Regentโ€™s Park

Art News

The British-Nigerian artist staged "Chairman" in the North London neighbourhood where he grew up, with a Nigeria edition now under discussion for 2027. Interview and reporting by Tobi Alexandra Falade / 17 October 2026.

Sabo Kpade

,

Sophie Okonedo as Clarissa in Clarissa, 2026 | Courtesy of [CREDIT: as supplied by DDA / Neon]
Sophie Okonedo as Clarissa in Clarissa, 2026 | Courtesy of [CREDIT: as supplied by DDA / Neon]

How the Spirit-Level Joke in Clarissa Was Built

Art News

Arie and Chuko Esiri on a crooked mosaic, an improvised gesture and a house designed as its ownerโ€™s portrait.

Sabo Kpade

,

Unathi Mkontoโ€™s Artist-to-Artist installation at Frieze London, 2026 | Photo: Stephen White & Co | Courtesy of the artist and Goodman Gallery
Unathi Mkontoโ€™s Artist-to-Artist installation at Frieze London, 2026 | Photo: Stephen White & Co | Courtesy of the artist and Goodman Gallery

Unathi Mkonto Wins Nicoletta Fiorucci Foundation Prize at Frieze London

Art News

Nominated by Yinka Shonibare for Friezeโ€™s Artist-to-Artist programme, the Cape Town-based artist wins the ยฃ10,000 Nicoletta Fiorucci Foundation Prize for a new presentation of beechwood sculptures.

Shalom Esene

,

Still from The Secret Lives of Baba Segiโ€™s Wives, 2026 | Courtesy of the BFI London Film Festival
Still from The Secret Lives of Baba Segiโ€™s Wives, 2026 | Courtesy of the BFI London Film Festival

โ€œThereโ€™s Melodrama in the Way We Make Our Filmsโ€: Director Daniel Oriahi on The Secret Lives of Baba Segiโ€™s Wives

In Conversation

Following its European premiere at the BFI London Film Festival, Daniel Oriahi discusses the demands of adapting Lola Shoneyinโ€™s novel for the screen and the complications of Nollywoodโ€™s storytelling heritage.

Shalom Esene

,

The shelf and empty chair in Where Is Dadiyata?, Gatefield Office, Abuja. Image courtesy of Goethe-Institut Nigeria.
The shelf and empty chair in Where Is Dadiyata?, Gatefield Office, Abuja. Image courtesy of Goethe-Institut Nigeria.

REVIEW: An Architecture of Refusal

Editorials

In Abuja, a single open bookshelf is set against the quiet closure of the law. The staging is too sparse for its subject; the performance and the manuscript that travel with it are not.

Aisha Aliyu Bima

,

Installation view, Frank Coffie, Between and Almost Far from Hard Walls, WorldFaze Art Practice, Accra, 2026.
Installation view, Frank Coffie, Between and Almost Far from Hard Walls, WorldFaze Art Practice, Accra, 2026.

Frank Coffie: Between and Almost Far from Hard Walls

In Conversation

In his first solo exhibition in Ghana, Frank Coffie builds paintings backwards โ€” yarn first, paint last โ€” from family memory, discarded fabric and pain.

Art Report Africa

,

Luke Agada in his studio. Photo: Robert Chase Heishman. Courtesy the artist.
Luke Agada in his studio. Photo: Robert Chase Heishman. Courtesy the artist.

Luke Agada: 'We Live our Memories in Colour'

In Conversation

In When the Center Holds, the Nigerian artist speaks with Sabo Kpade about suspension, memory, postcolonial thought, colour and why drawing becomes an x-ray into painting.

Sabo Kpade

,

Jacqueline Suowari, a figurative artist, beside one of her drawings.  Courtesy Jacqueline Suowari
Jacqueline Suowari, a figurative artist, beside one of her drawings.  Courtesy Jacqueline Suowari

Armory Show: 5 Works to See Up Close

Editorials

Thread that turns into faces, bronze that becomes a crowd, ceramic coral clinging to a sunken object, a "painting" that turns out to be a quilt: the Nigerian artist Jacqueline Suowari takes us on a tour of the fair at the Javits Center in New York, pointing out the five works that rewarded her for stepping closer.

Jacqueline Suowari

,

Installation view, Kerry James Marshall: The Histories, Musรฉe dโ€™Art Moderne de Paris, 2026, with Knowledge and Wonder (1995). ARTWORK ยฉ KERRY JAMES MARSHALL. PHOTO: NICOLAS BOREL ยฉ MUSร‰E Dโ€™ART MODERNE DE PARIS / PARIS MUSร‰ES.
Installation view, Kerry James Marshall: The Histories, Musรฉe dโ€™Art Moderne de Paris, 2026, with Knowledge and Wonder (1995). ARTWORK ยฉ KERRY JAMES MARSHALL. PHOTO: NICOLAS BOREL ยฉ MUSร‰E Dโ€™ART MODERNE DE PARIS / PARIS MUSร‰ES.

3 Exhibitions to See This Week

What's On

In Lagos, Victoria Ndubuisi and Paulcy Odama turn bodies into landscape and monumental architecture into something fragile. In Abuja, Dotun Popoola bends discarded metal until it holds movement and likeness. In Paris, four decades of Kerry James Marshall place Black figures at the centre of history painting. Three shows about what a surface can be made to carry.

Art Report Africa

,

Portrait of Emma Prempeh. Photo: Nana Ampofo. Courtesy of dot.ateliers
Portrait of Emma Prempeh. Photo: Nana Ampofo. Courtesy of dot.ateliers

In conversation with Emma Prempeh

In Conversation

The painter on returning to Accra, colliding London with Obuasi, and why she lets a painting go above 90 percent.

Interview by Nana Poulot

,

Chika Idu in front of his paintings in Pure Water. Courtesy SMO Contemporary Art.
Chika Idu in front of his paintings in Pure Water. Courtesy SMO Contemporary Art.

For Chika Idu, Water Holds Memoryโ€”and the Possibility of Freedom

In Conversation

Recorded at ARAMI, Lagos, during a press preview for Pure Water, Chika Iduโ€™s solo exhibition with SMO Contemporary Art. In conversation with Sunshine Alaibe, Idu traces water through childhood drought, environmental precarity, the Atlantic slave trade and the changing representation of women in his work. By Sunshine Alaibe Edited by Sabo Kpade 17 September 2026. This conversation has been condensed, reordered and edited for clarity.

Art Report Africa

,

Installation view, Sungi Mlengeya, Earth and Sky, Les filles du calvaire, Paris, 2026. ยฉ Sungi Mlengeya. Courtesy of Galerie Les filles du calvaire, Afriart Gallery and the artist.
Installation view, Sungi Mlengeya, Earth and Sky, Les filles du calvaire, Paris, 2026. ยฉ Sungi Mlengeya. Courtesy of Galerie Les filles du calvaire, Afriart Gallery and the artist.

4 Exhibitions to See This Week

What's On

A Tanzanian painter turns white space into a field of memory; a Paris gallery fills with flea-market talismans. In Lagos, one group show tests affinities across generations while another asks how traces survive in material form. Four exhibitions worth seeing this week.

Art Report Africa

,

Tschabalala Self's Lady in Blue unveiled on Trafalgar Squareโ€™s Fourth Plinth in London, 2026. Photo: Jeff Spicer, PA Media Assignments.
Tschabalala Self's Lady in Blue unveiled on Trafalgar Squareโ€™s Fourth Plinth in London, 2026. Photo: Jeff Spicer, PA Media Assignments.

Tschabalala Selfโ€™s Lady In Blue Unveiled on Londonโ€™s Fourth Plinth

Art News

Tschabalala Selfโ€™s Lady In Blue has arrived at Londonโ€™s Trafalgar Square, transforming the iconic Fourth Plinth with a monumental portrait of the contemporary woman.

Art Report Africa

,

Bartheฬleฬmy Toguo, The Nomadic Studio, Galerie Lelong, Paris, 2026. Courtesy Galerie Lelong (1)
Bartheฬleฬmy Toguo, The Nomadic Studio, Galerie Lelong, Paris, 2026. Courtesy Galerie Lelong (1)

5 Things to See This Week

What's On

From Ruth Ige and Chika Idu in Lagos to Barthรฉlรฉmy Toguo and Ladji Diaby in Paris, the exhibitions worth making time for now.

Art Report Africa

,

Emma Prempeh, One world for another, 2026. Oil, acrylic and schlag metal on canvas, diptych. Overall unframed: 200 ร— 300 cm. Photo: Nii-Odzenma. Courtesy the artist and Perrotin.
Emma Prempeh, One world for another, 2026. Oil, acrylic and schlag metal on canvas, diptych. Overall unframed: 200 ร— 300 cm. Photo: Nii-Odzenma. Courtesy the artist and Perrotin.

4 Things to See This Week

What's On

This week: grief and inheritance in Lagos, material memory and belonging in Paris, and Ndidi Dikeโ€™s economies of extraction in Stockholm.

Ada Kalu

,

Sabo Kpade

,

Interview by Nana Poulot

,

Botswana-born artist Kelebogile Marope. Picture: (Supplied)
Botswana-born artist Kelebogile Marope. Picture: (Supplied)

Botswana Takes the Stage: Kelebogile Marope Named 2026 FNB Art Prize Winner

Art News

History was made this year at FNB Art Joburg. Sculptor Kelebogile Marope has been announced as the winner of the 2026 FNB Art Prize โ€” becoming the first artist from Botswana to ever take home the award since its inception nineteen editions ago.

Art Report Africa

,

Gabriel Selassie Tsagli, Rave, 2026. [wall colour and oil on canvas, 240 x 360 cm] Courtesy the artist and Gallery 1957.
Gabriel Selassie Tsagli, Rave, 2026. [wall colour and oil on canvas, 240 x 360 cm] Courtesy the artist and Gallery 1957.

3 Things to See in Accra This Week

What's On

At Nubuke Foundation domestic objects turn into archives of labour and belonging, Gabriel Selassie Tsagli sets the choreography of the rave against private grief and Frank Coffie makes yarn do two entirely different jobs in one room.

Sabo Kpade

,

Gabriel Selassie Tsagli, Kafui, 2026, Pastel and oil on canvas, 200 x 160 cm. Courtesy of the Artist and Gallery 1957. Photo Nii Odzenma
Gabriel Selassie Tsagli, Kafui, 2026, Pastel and oil on canvas, 200 x 160 cm. Courtesy of the Artist and Gallery 1957. Photo Nii Odzenma

In conversation with Gabriel Selassie Tsagli

In Conversation

Gabriel Selassie Tsagli left Ghana at eleven and lived in Germany for twenty-six years. He returned to Accra in 2024 and made the paintings in Son of Kafuiโ€”his first proper solo exhibition at homeโ€”in a single stretch between February and this summer. He does not use a colour palette, works on many canvases at once, and calls the show a graduation. This conversation was recorded in Accra in August 2026 and has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.

Sabo Kpade

,

Ngozi-Omeje Ezema, Aga ekworo ngbagbu, 2026, Ceramics, acrylic, monofilament, fishing line, metal, 150 x 30 x 150 cm | 59 x 11.8 x 59 in. Courtey the artist and kรณ.

3 Things to See in Lagos This Week

What's On

Stephen Tayo finds social choreography in the movements around worship, Ameh Egwuh builds a language from yellow bodies and white birds, and Ngozi-Omeje Ezema discovers what a vessel can hold after it breaks.

Sabo Kpade

,

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

A New Chapter at the Silo: Elvira Dyangani Ose Takes the Helm at Zeitz MOCAA

Art News

Appointment of Elvira Dyangani Ose as the artistic director of Zeitz Musuem of Contemporary Art, Cape Town. The choice that signals both continuity and a widening of horizons.

Art Report Africa

,

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Coral Walls, Blue Skies: A Conversation with Orry Shenjobi on Her Venice Residency

In Conversation

Orry Shenjobi on her Venice residency: raffia craftwork, studio life, and what she learned โ€” with takeaways for artists eyeing their own residency.

Adaeze Nwosu

,

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Joy as Resistance: Inside Yinka Ilori's Homecoming Exhibition

What's On

For nearly a decade, Yinka Ilori has been known as an artist of colour and community โ€” the designer behind playful, technicolour public interventions across London and beyond.

Art Report Africa

,

Yinka Shonibare | Material (SG) V, 2025 | Steel armature with hand painted glass reinforced polyester cast tripod and theodolite  Work: 400 x 200 x 200 cm (157.5 x 78.7 x 78.7 in.)  Unique
Yinka Shonibare | Material (SG) V, 2025 | Steel armature with hand painted glass reinforced polyester cast tripod and theodolite  Work: 400 x 200 x 200 cm (157.5 x 78.7 x 78.7 in.)  Unique

What's On: African Artists, Around the World

What's On

From London to Lagos, New York to the French Riviera, African and diasporic artists are commanding some of the most talked-about gallery walls this summer. Here's where to go, who to see, and what to expect before the doors close.

Adaeze Nwosu

,

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Inside Asidere/Duke: A Retrospective

What's On

Two Galleries, Four Decades, One Artist Running Out of Time to See in Lagos

Art Report Africa

,

NCMM Bilateral Agreement ceremony  | Courtesy of NCMM
NCMM Bilateral Agreement ceremony  | Courtesy of NCMM

The Bronzes Are Home. Is Nigeria Ready for Them?

Editorials

Switzerland's return of eighteen Benin Bronzes and four Ikom monoliths is a milestone in a restitution movement that is starting to outpace the institutions meant to receive it.

Sunshine Alaibe

,

Goethe-Institut Dakar. Photo by Iwan Baan.
Goethe-Institut Dakar. Photo by Iwan Baan.

Francis Kรฉrรฉ Just Built Germany's First Purpose-Built Cultural Home โ€” In Senegal

Art News

The Goethe-Institut has operated for more than 75 years without ever commissioning a building of its own. It chose Dakar, and a Burkinabรจ architect, to break that streak.

Art Report Africa

,

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

The Art Market: 9 Observations In The First Half Of 2024

Reports

The art world is accustomed to cycles of boom and bust, but the first half of 2024 offered a particularly vivid tableau of contrasting fortunes and unexpected shifts. As galleries, auction houses, and fairs grappled with uncertaintyโ€”from geopolitical tensions to fluctuating interest ratesโ€”several key developments stood out, reshaping the landscape of the art market.

Obidike Okafor

,

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

In Conversation With Nduka Ikechukwu

In Conversation

Ralph Waldo Emerson, in his essay "Society and Solitude," wrote, "We do not believe our own thought; we must serve somebody; we must quote somebody; we dote on the old and the distant; we are tickled by great names; we quote their opinions; we cite their laws." For Ikechukwu Nduka, he stands as the antithesis of the society Emerson critiques. He defied societal expectations and familial disapproval to pursue his passion for art, successfully contending the dependence on the opinions of others. "They say art is therapy, but while creative minds like us are creating this 'therapy', I think we need it the most, or rather we need it first." He aptly expressed the stark pressure.

Fredrick Favour

,

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

God's Artist: Dianna Offor is Bridging the Gap Between Faith and Art

Editorials

Dianna Offor, nicknamed "God's Artist," is a Nigerian-born visual artist, whose work is dedicated to expressing the essence of God and importance of faith in todays society. Currently living in Irelandโ€“where she recently acquired a diploma in studio art painting, Offor has spent the last three years depicting the theme of Hope and Love through her biblical abstract paintings.

Fredrick Favour

,

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

What The Museo del Prado Experience Taught Us About Telling Our Own Stories

Editorials

Last week, Art Report Africa served as the official media partner for New Narratives and Singular Communication in Arts Journalism: The Museo del Prado Experience โ€” a two-day international workshop held at the Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art, Pan-Atlantic University, Lagos, organised in partnership with the Embassy of Spain in Nigeria and Casa รfrica through its #Periodismoรfrica programme.

Art Report Africa

,

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

The Obamas: Springing Forth โ€” Njideka Akunyili Crosby and the Portrait That Was Always Coming

Editorials

On 14 June 2026, the Obama Presidential Center unveiled "The Obamas: Springing Forth" โ€” a large-scale work by Njideka Akunyili Crosby, rendered in acrylic, coloured pencils, charcoal, and transfers on paper, measuring 108 by 120 inches. It now hangs in the Hope and Change Lobby of the museum's main building, free and open to the public, before the Centre's official grand opening on Juneteenth. It is the first official portrait of the former President and First Lady together.

Adaeze Nwosu

,

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Art Report Africa's Guide to London Gallery Weekend 2026

What's On

London Gallery Weekend returns for its sixth edition this 5โ€“7 June, bringing together over 120 galleries across the capital for three days of exhibitions, talks, and events โ€” all free and open to the public. For its Co-Directors Jeremy Epstein and Sarah Rustin, the 2026 edition is "a convening moment that is both local and global in its scope and audience, reflecting the year-on-year revitalisation and evolution of the capital's contemporary art scene."

Adaeze Nwosu

,

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

In Minor Keys, Africa Speaks at Full Volume

Editorials

The 2026 Venice Biennale is, on paper, the most African edition in the exhibition's 131-year history. But what does that actually mean โ€” and who does it serve?

Sunshine Alaibe

,

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Tiwani Contemporary, Pioneer of African Art in London, Is Closing

Art News

Tiwani Contemporary is closing its London doors. The gallery, which has operated out of 24 Cork Street in Mayfair since 2023 will shut its London space after already pausing operations at its Lagos outpost on Victoria Island.

Art Report Africa

,

Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Faces), 2000s. Mixed media with collage, 38.5 x 53cm. Photo: Art Auction East Africa. Courtesy Art Auction East Africa

Omenaa Mensah Joins Tateโ€™s Africa Acquisitions Committee, Becoming The First Polish Member

Art News

Polish philanthropist and art advocate Omenaa Mensah, of Ghanaian heritage, has been invited to join the prestigious Africa Acquisitions Committee (AAC) at Tate, one of the worldโ€™s most influential cultural institutions. Her appointment not only marks a milestone as the first Polish member of the Committee but also underscores Warsawโ€™s growing significance on the global art world.

Fredrick Favour

,

Reports