If you are an art lover or generally a creative living in Lagos, ARTxLagos is one event you should definitely make time to attend. A yearly exhibition aimed at supporting contemporary art from Africa and its diaspora, the ninth edition of ARTxLagos held from 31st October to 3rd November 2024, at the Federal Palace, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The theme for this year, Promised Lands, implies one's ability to explore places, real or imagined, in the hopes of greatly improving one's situation. The event showcased several artists' galleries, including those based in Nigeria and abroad: Kanbi Projects (UK), kó (Nigeria), Nike Art Gallery (Nigeria), ODA Art Gallery (Nigeria), and Tiwani Contemporary (UK), Afriart Gallery (Uganda), Alexis Gallery (Nigeria), Galerie MAM (Cameroon), Gallery 1957 (Ghana), Affinity Art Gallery (Nigeria).
There were also exhibitions from several artists, including Marcellina Akpojotor’s textile art focused on sustainability and Williams Chechet’s “Breaking Barriers,” an Afrofuturist exploration of African identity and progress, among others.
An important highlight of the event was the exhibition paying tribute to Herbert Wigwe, the late CEO of Access Bank, who constantly supported the steady growth of ARTxLagos. This exhibition, titled “Mark-Makers: Unsung Pioneers,” was curated by Missla Libsekal, Fikayo Adebajo, and Haily Grenet.
The Access ART X Prize, an annual award for the most ambitious art exhibitions, was awarded to two artists this year: Julius Agbaje for the Nigeria Award and Shabu Mwangi for the African/Diaspora Award.
The four-day event came to an end with the ART X Live! musical experience, featuring artists like Cruel Santino, Boj, and Ayuba, who delivered amazing performances to a vibrant crowd.
Image Credit: ArtxLagos Instagram
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