ART X Lagos Returns for 11th Edition, Spotlights Ladi Kwali’s Legacy and Nigerian Modernism

ART X Lagos, West Africa’s leading international art fair, will hold its 11th edition from November 5 to 8, 2026, at the Federal Palace, Lagos, with a programme celebrating Nigerian artistic heritage, contemporary creativity and the influence of pioneering cultural practitioners.

The four-day event, themed “A New Chapter, A New Decade,” marks the beginning of a new phase for the fair following its landmark 10th anniversary celebration.

Founded in 2016 by Tokini Peterside-Schwebig, ART X Lagos has evolved into an international platform showcasing contemporary art from Africa and its diaspora, attracting artists and galleries from more than 70 countries and participants from 170 nations.

The 2026 edition will draw inspiration from the artists, architects, educators and intellectuals who shaped modernism in Nigeria, exploring how their contributions continue to influence contemporary artistic expressions.

Speaking ahead of the event, Peterside-Schwebig, Founder and Director of ART X Lagos, said the new decade offered an opportunity to revisit the histories and cultural traditions that have shaped African creativity while exploring new directions for the future.

She said the fair would celebrate artists and cultural practitioners who transform inherited knowledge into new forms of expression, creating connections across generations, disciplines and geographical boundaries.

This year’s programme will feature 15 exhibitors across its main and spotlight sections, bringing together established and emerging galleries from Africa and the diaspora.

Participating galleries in the main section include Affinity Art Gallery, Afriart Gallery, Alexis Galleries, AMG Projects, Gallery 1957, kó, Kokopelli Gallery, Nike Art Gallery, O’DA Art, SMO Contemporary Art, TAFETA and Yenwa.

The spotlight section, which provides opportunities for emerging galleries to showcase their work, will feature Adegbola Gallery, Nomadic Art Gallery and Windsor Gallery, all based in Nigeria.

A major attraction will be ART X ICON, sponsored by Zenith Bank, which will honour celebrated Nigerian potter Ladi Dosei Kwali (1925–1984) through an exhibition titled “Ladi Kwali: Beyond the Vessel.”

Curated by Dr Jareh Das, the exhibition will feature ceramics and archival materials from the National Museum in Lagos, alongside works from private collections.

It will also showcase the contributions of women potters who worked alongside and after Kwali, including Kande Ushafa and Asibi Ido, as well as traditional pottery from Gbari, Nupe and Bida communities.

The exhibition will examine Kwali’s artistic inheritance, innovations and influence on subsequent generations, while exploring issues surrounding gender, access and the recognition of traditional craftsmanship as an important part of contemporary art.

In a related initiative, The Masterclass will bring together 10 emerging artists for an intensive learning programme inspired by Kwali’s legacy. Participants will be drawn from disciplines including painting, sculpture, photography, film, textiles, digital art, performance and ceramics, with opportunities to engage leading African art practitioners through workshops and conversations.

The fair’s Special Projects will feature installations and interactive experiences designed to expand the traditional exhibition experience.

One of the highlights is “Residues of Past Encounters, 2024–2026,” an installation by Ndidi Dike, sponsored by Chapel Hill Denham and curated by N’Goné Fall.

The work uses the wreck of a capsized canoe, suspended fabric and mirrored surfaces to reflect on the history of Badagry’s Point of No Return, examining the continuing relationship between historical displacement, loss and contemporary experiences.

ART X Cinema will also introduce a different presentation format, integrating moving images into exhibitions and other programmes across the fair.

The film programme will include “Mothers of Chibok” (2024), by Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Joel ‘Kachi Benson, who will participate in a conversation about the production.

Organisers also plan to present additional moving-image works, including a documentary on the life and contributions of Ladi Kwali.

Previous editions of ART X Lagos have featured renowned artists such as El Anatsui, Njideka Akunyili-Crosby, Nike Davies-Okundaye, Ibrahim Mahama, Wangechi Mutu, Bruce Onobrakpeya, Yinka Shonibare and Hank Willis Thomas.

With its 11th edition, the fair seeks to deepen conversations around African identity, artistic heritage and contemporary cultural production while expanding opportunities for emerging creatives to connect with the international art community.