As Art Week Lagos sets in, there is alot of anticipation to witness the ninth edition of ART X Lagos, one of the biggest West African art fairs. This year, 10 pan-African galleries will exhibit works by talented artists. We have taken a moment to curate a list of 5 that we believe should be on your checklist of must-sees during the fair.
ODA Art Gallery | BOOTH 5
O'DA, a Lagos-based art gallery focusing on layering a branch between local and international audiences, will showcase Abe Odedina's work at booth 5 of the fair. Odedina, a self-proclaimed folk artist, questions the validity of 'folk art' as a distinct category. His paintings, done on boards rather than canvas, embody solidity and practicality. They incorporate elements from various mythologies and feature figures from the artist's imagination. Odedina's compositions blend Renaissance portraiture, devotional painting, and pop art elements.
Tiwani Contemporary | BOOTH 3
Another creative booth you won't want to miss is Booth 3 by Tiwani Contemporary. Recognized for its representation of artists from Africa and the diaspora, Tiwani Contemporary will showcase works by three artists: "Friends" by Joy Labinjo, "Stone Shakers" by Samuel Nnorom, and "Everything That Is You plus Everything That Is Not You" by Wura-Natasha Ogunji. These artists explore themes of identity, power, and memory through diverse mediums, ranging from painting to sculpture and performance. Labinjo's large-scale figurative paintings depict intimate scenes of historical and contemporary life. Her "collage aesthetic" combines eclectic visual vocabulary and mixed painterly techniques. Nnorom's tapestry-like sculptures incorporate pre-loved Ankara wax fabric, exploring its complex symbolism. His work reappropriates a ubiquitous fabric in his community. Ogunji's hand-stitched drawings and performances explore physicality, endurance, and gestures of the body. Her work references daily interactions in Lagos and investigates women's presence in public spaces.
KO | BOOTH 1
KO is one of the featured exhibitors at ArtXlagos. Occupying booth 1, the gallery will showcase works by three talented artists: "Dawn [gold topaz] # 4" by Layo Bright, "Portraits|Na Chainkua, Smiling" by Mobolaji Ogunrosoye, and "Bonding" by Ngozi Ezema-Omeje. These artists explore themes of migration, identity, and perception through sculpture, photography, and collage. Bright's sculptural practice investigates how materials shape perception and culture. His hybrid portraits and textiles draw upon natural forms and ancestral memory. Ogunrosoye's collage and photography explore distortion and perception. Her work reinterprets digital and analogue collage as a unified medium. Ezema-Omeje's ceramic installations suspend terracotta pieces, playing with viewer perception and addressing issues of identity, family, and the female body.
Gallery 1957 | BOOTH 10
Last on our list of five is Gallery 1957, exhibiting at booth 10. The contemporary art gallery, committed to amplifying international exchanges between African artists and the global community, prides itself on cross-border expansion with locations in Accra, Ghana, and London, UK. For the fair, the gallery will be presenting works by Larry Amponsah, Nana Bruce, and Tegene Kunbi, who will be showcasing "Right Here - Where You Belong," "PASSION," and "Adwa's 4," respectively. These artists investigate image-making, sociocultural landscapes, and abstraction. Amponsah's collages negotiate systems of power and transcend boundaries. His compositions emerge from archival images and mechanical processes. Bruce's figurative paintings document and discuss Ghanaian society. His "Contemporary Impressionism" captures spirited crowds and individuals. Kunbi's abstract paintings explore place, politics, and colour. His signature use of colour blocking and texture references Ethiopian landscapes and cultural signifiers.
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