In just nine years, Art X Lagos has evolved into the beating heart of West Africa’s art scene. From October 31 to November 3, 2024, Nigeria’s commercial capital became the epicenter of African creativity as the Federal Palace Hotel hosted the fair's largest edition to date. Art enthusiasts, collectors, curators, and critics swarmed its vibrant corridors, eager to discover what has turned this event into an unmissable cultural gathering. Beyond the crowd-pleasing displays and high-profile sales, Art X Lagos stands out for its thoughtful curation, programmatic diversity, and the unique way it connects African art to a global audience.
The Business of Art: What Sold
At its core, Art X Lagos is a marketplace, and this year’s sales demonstrated the growing appetite for contemporary African art. London-based Vanessa Endeley, represented by Affinity Gallery, drew considerable attention, with her works selling for $10,000. Joy Labinjo, featured by Tiwani Contemporary, also made a significant impact with her pieces. Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Alexis Gallery reported robust sales, including three standout works—Flower Boy, The Machine Man, and Innocence—priced between $50,000 and $65,000. Another highlight was O’DA Art’s sold-out booth for Abe Odedina, with works ranging from $2,500 to $10,000.
These figures underscore a truth African art lovers have long recognized: the market is on the rise. Yet, as one local collector noted, “For African artists, you have to move fast. International buyers are watching, and the best pieces don’t wait.”
A Fair Beyond Sales
Art X Lagos is more than just a commercial endeavor. Its programs reveal a broader mission: to nurture the continent’s creative ecosystem while showcasing its cultural depth to the world.
The Development Forum, introduced several years ago, is one such initiative. Designed to support emerging African artists, it pairs them with established mentors who offer insights into building sustainable careers on the continent. The program addresses a persistent issue: the lack of institutional support for artists facing economic and political challenges. “Artists often focus on leaving the continent,” said forum director Jumoke Sanwo. “But they need tools to thrive here first.”
This year’s beneficiaries included several young artists whose works quickly caught collectors' eyes. The mentorship they received not only honed their craft but also equipped them to navigate an art market increasingly hungry for fresh African voices.
Art Meets Impact
The Access Art X Prize, the fair’s flagship initiative, remains a cornerstone of its mission. It offers emerging Nigerian and African diasporic artists residencies in Lagos and London alongside financial grants. For winners like Patrick Akpojotor, who received the inaugural prize in 2016, the impact is life-changing. “It’s not just about the money,” Akpojotor explained. “It’s about the champions who come into your life and elevate your career.”
This spirit of advocacy extended to this year’s special project, Mark-Makers: Unsung Pioneers. Curated by Missla Libsekal, it celebrated overlooked figures across professions, from photographers to doctors. “Art is a multiplier,” said Libsekal. “It connects people across worlds that might otherwise never intersect.”
A Cinematic Turn
Art X Cinema, curated by Tega Okiti, added an experimental edge to the fair. Video installations appeared unexpectedly across the venue, creating an immersive experience for attendees. This year’s program focused on African identity and global perspectives, with standout films like Michael Omonua’s Rehearsal and Alain Kassanda’s Coconut Head Generation.
Okiti highlighted how these works push cinematic boundaries: “We’re exploring filmmakers who challenge traditional narratives, using cinema as a tool to reflect modern African life.” The result was a surreal yet poignant experience that lingered in the minds of fairgoers.
A New Generation
The Schools’ Programme invited 800 children from underserved Lagos communities to explore the fair. While symbolic, the initiative reflects Art X Lagos’s commitment to democratizing access to art. Nigeria’s art industry often remains a bastion of privilege, inaccessible to many due to economic hardships. Bridging this gap, even incrementally, is essential for fostering a sustainable creative ecosystem.
Music as a Bridge
If art collectors and connoisseurs dominated the daytime, Art X Live took over the nights. Curated by Lanre Masha and Ayo Lawson, the live performance series underscored the interplay between Nigeria’s visual and musical legacies. This year’s theme, Promised Lands, framed these performances as explorations of identity and aspiration.
“We wanted something open-ended,” Libsekal explained. “It’s about where we’re going, but also where we dream of going.” Through music, the fair transcended its physical space, connecting diverse audiences in a celebration of African creativity.
Expanding Horizons
Art X Lagos’s gallery booths remain its backbone, showcasing the best of African contemporary art. This year’s 10 invited exhibitors included heavyweights from Lagos to London, offering a cross-section of the continent’s artistic diversity. Their presentations challenged narrow perceptions of African art, emphasizing its multidimensionality—from textiles to painting, sculpture, and digital media.
As Libsekal noted, “There’s complexity in African art that’s so liberating. It’s not boxed in—it lives in music, in hair, in fabric. It’s everywhere.”
The Road Ahead
Art X Lagos is not just a fair; it is a movement. Its growth mirrors the rise of African art on the global stage, yet its foundation remains firmly rooted in local culture. By blending commerce with community, the event continues to redefine what an art fair can be.
For collectors, it’s a chance to invest in talent before it skyrockets. For artists, it’s a platform to shine. For Lagos—and Africa—it’s a reminder of the continent’s boundless creativity.
Art X Lagos is more than a promised land; it is proof that Africa’s time is now.
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