Over the last six years, the Nigerian art fair, ART X Lagos, has established a reputation as one of the most important stops in the art world, serving as a premier destination for displaying some of the most innovative contemporary art and music coming out of the African continent as well as important works from the global diaspora. 

Last year, due to the restrictions imposed by COVID-19, the fair pivoted online, eschewing its in-person showcase by inviting its audience to interact virtually and partake in a series of events that also paid homage to the #EndSARS protests. With the world opening back in phases, the fair has announced that it will be returning to its in-person format this year, holding a series of events from 4 to 7 November this year at The Federal Palace in Victoria Island, Lagos.

 

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This year’s exhibition will welcome works from 30 galleries showing over 110 artists from 25 countries in Africa and the diaspora. Following the in-person exhibition, this year’s edition will continue online at artxlagos.com until the 21st of November, making it accessible to galleries and collectors who cannot join in person due to the disruptions caused by the pandemic.  2021’s curatorial theme “the restful ones are not yet born” presents an opportunity to challenge projected images and clichés about the continent with reinvented modalities of our own presence in the world. 

Speaking about the motivation for bringing back the fair’s in-person format, Tokini Peterside, the founder and CEO of ART X Collective, which organises the fair, said: “It has never been more important to celebrate creativity, excellence and resilience from across Africa and its diaspora. We are proud to return for our sixth consecutive year, despite ongoing global challenges, to provide a platform for people all over the world to come together – both in person and online – to experience some of the brightest creative talents that exists globally, and to contemplate Africa’s place in the world, drawing from archives of the past, present and future.”

Earlier this week, Chiagozie Obi, a Lagos-based emerged as victorious in the Access Bank ART X Prizie, starting off the sizzling calendar of events set to take place this year. In addition to presenting work by Africa’s leading galleries and artists, ART X Lagos’ 2021 curated program will include ART X Talks, a lively and robust series of conversations exploring themes pertinent to the state and evolution of contemporary art in Africa, curated by Aude Mgba; ART X Live!, a platform for expression and experimentation by Africa’s dynamic young creators that fuses music and visual art, curated by Lanre Masha and Faridah Folawiyo; and special projects which will include an exploration of NFT art on the continent, curated by Papa Omotayo and AWCA. 

Featured image credits/ArtX/ChiagozieObi