ART X Lagos returns to The Civic Center in Victoria Island to showcase the best and most innovative contemporary art from the African continent and diaspora in its third year.
From Nov. 2 to Nov. 4, West Africa's premier international art fair will host 18 international galleries including Art House – The Space (Nigeria), Addis Fine Art (Ethiopia), Circle Art Agency (Kenya), Stevenson Gallery (South Africa), Gallery 1957 (Ghana), Tafeta (United Kingdom), Tiwani Contemporary (United Kingdom), Nike Art Gallery (Nigeria), and Out of Africa Gallery (Spain) and more.
READ: Here's What Went Down at ART X Lagos 2019
ART X Lagos will welcome artists hailing from East Africa for the first time, featuring Paul Onditi and Cyrus Kabiru from Kenya, in an effort to widen Nigeria's connection to the contemporary African art world. The fair is also welcoming Yinka Shonibare MBE as its 2018 keynote artist. He'll be celebrated with an exhibition that digs into his career highlights.
Tilbug Sun (2017) by Cyrus Kabiru. Photo courtesy of ART X Lagos.
Other programs to look out for this year include ART X Talks, Interactive Projects and ART X Live. Curated by Missla Libsekal, the ART X Talks series will feature engaging discussions from key stakeholders in Africa's art economy.
Curated by A Whitespace Agency, the fair will feature experimental platforms that explore ideas influenced by the exhilarating essence of Lagos—including Mad Horse City, a virtual reality installation from artists Olalekan Jeyifous and Wale Lawal.
ART X Live is a returning live art and music performance program that is curated by Lanre Masha with Odunsi the Engine as creative director. It's due to feature some of Africa's most talented rising artists, such as Teni the Entertainer, Ghanaian artist Amaare and BOJ. "The theme this year invites guests to indulge in an electric exploration of Africa's rich musical history with a celebration of our heroes past—the icons, legends and sounds that have shaped the continent's contemporary musical landscape," the fair explains.
Untitled (2018) by Joy Labinjo. Photo courtesy of ART X Lagos.
Since its launch in 2016, the fair has hosted 15,000 attendees and some of Africa's most sought-after established and emerging artists.
"We are validated in our decision to develop this vital platform for the growth and increased visibility of African artists and galleries," Tokini Peterside, founder and director of ART X Lagos, says in a press release. "We look forward to welcoming a vast and varied, local and international audience as we seek to reinforce Lagos' position as an emergent cultural capital on our continent."
ART X Lagos was created to widen Nigeria's connection to the contemporary art scene across Africa and the world. The three-day affair will run from Friday, Nov. 2 through Sunday, Nov. 4 at The Civic Centre in Victoria Island, Lagos.
Check out ART X Lagos' website for more information, and be sure to keep up with them on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
