West Africa’s premier international art fair, ‘ART X Lagos’ is set to hold the third edition of its annual fair, from Friday 2^nd November to Sunday 4^th November 2018.

L-R: Senior Brand Manager, Seven Up, Segun Ogunleye; Founder/Director, ART X Lagos, Tokini Peterside; and Group Head, Corporate Communications & External Affairs, Access Bank Plc, Amaechi Okobi at a press briefing to announce ART X Lagos 2018 in Lagos.

The fair which will be held at The Civic Centre in Victoria Island, Lagos will play host to some of Africa’s most sought-after established and emerging artists, as well as leading galleries.

While addressing journalists, ‘ART X Lagos’ Founder and Director, Tokini Peterside stated that as part of its pan-African identity, widening Nigeria’s connection to the contemporary African art world, ART X Lagos will host East African artists to the fair for the first time, featuring critically acclaimed artists such as Kenyans Paul Onditi and Cyrus Kabiru.

“After the success of ART X Lagos 2017 we are delighted to return for a third edition. We are validated in our decision to develop this vital platform for the growth and increased visibility of African artists and galleries. This would have been impossible without the phenomenal support of the galleries, sponsors and partners, who took a huge leap of faith and committed to support us from ground zero, for which we are most grateful. In six weeks, we will open the doors to ART X Lagos 2018. 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”, she said.

She also disclosed that the 2018 edition of the fair will host 18 prestigious galleries from a variety of countries worldwide, such as: 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) amongst others.

“The 18 exhibiting galleries have been chosen by a Selection Committee led by Advisory Board members, N’Goné Fall, the renowned Senegalese curator, art critic and cultural consultant, and Femi Lijadu, one of Nigeria’s most respected art collectors and leading commercial lawyers”, she said.

Meanwhile, the fair will have as its keynote artist, Yinka Shonibare MBE, who will be celebrated with a highly anticipated exhibition, exploring his career highlights.

Keynote artist, Yinka Shonibare MBE

According to Peterside, ART X Lagos 2018 which was curated by ‘A Whitespace Creative Agency’ will feature “experiential platforms that explore ideas influenced by the exhilarating essence of Lagos. Olalekan Jeyifous and Wale Lawal have created a virtual reality installation, Mad Horse City, which explores a futuristic imagination of Lagos in the year 2115. Meanwhile ‘Lagos Drawings’ is an Interactive Installation, by Karo Akpokiere which combines digital technology, perceptible sounds and visual illustrations inspired by Lagos Textures.

“Through its contribution to the increased visibility of African artists, ART X Lagos aims to reinforce the visual arts as an important component of the creative industry in Nigeria and Africa, and to position Lagos as an emergent cultural capital on the continent”.