Zenith Bank Plc has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing Nigeria's creative and cultural landscape through its continued sponsorship of ART X Lagos 2026, taking place from November 5-8, 2026, at Federal Palace, Lagos.
Building
on its support for the fair's landmark tenth-anniversary edition in 2025, the
Bank returns as a Silver Sponsor for the 11th edition, reinforcing its
commitment to platforms that celebrate African artistic excellence, preserve
cultural heritage and create opportunities for emerging creative talent.
Founded by
Tokini Peterside-Schwebig in 2016, ART X Lagos is a leading international
cultural platform dedicated to showcasing contemporary art from Africa and its
diaspora. Through its multidisciplinary programming, the fair has become an
important platform for connecting artists, galleries, collectors and cultural
institutions while promoting African creativity on the global stage. Since its
inception, ART X Lagos has brought together artists and galleries from over 70
countries, welcoming participants from 170 nations worldwide.
The 11th
edition of ART X Lagos will hold under the theme: A New Chapter, A New Decade,
reflecting on the artists, architects, educators and thinkers who shaped
modernism in Nigeria. The theme explores how cultural inheritance can inspire
new forms of artistic expression and possibilities for the future.
Through
its sponsorship, Zenith Bank supports the continued growth of ART X Lagos as an
international platform for artistic exchange, cultural preservation and
creative enterprise, strengthening connections across Africa's creative
ecosystem and fostering opportunities for growth and collaboration.
As part of
its broader sponsorship of ART X Lagos 2026, Zenith Bank will support two key
programmes: ART X ICON and The Masterclass. While ART X ICON celebrates the
achievements and enduring contributions of Nigeria's artistic pioneers, The
Masterclass creates opportunities for emerging creatives to learn, engage and
develop their practice.
In this 11th
edition, the focus of ART X ICON is turned to pioneering Nigerian potter Ladi
Dosei Kwali (1925–1984) with Ladi Kwali: Beyond the Vessel, conceived
and developed by curator Dr Jareh Das.
Widely
recognised as the face on Nigeria's 20-naira note, Ladi Kwali is celebrated for
her extraordinary contribution to Nigerian ceramics and her role in bringing
traditional Nigerian pottery to international prominence. Drawing on
generations of indigenous pottery knowledge, she developed a distinctive
artistic practice that earned her international recognition.
Bringing
together ceramics and archival materials from the National Museum in Lagos,
alongside works from private lenders, Ladi Kwali: Beyond the Vessel
offers a deeper exploration of the artist's life, practice and enduring
influence.
The
exhibition will also feature works by women potters who worked alongside and
after Kwali, including Kande Ushafa and Asibi Ido, as well as traditional
pottery by Gbari, Nupe and Bida potters. Together, these works illuminate the
artistic traditions Kwali inherited, the innovations she introduced, and the
knowledge carried forward by subsequent generations.
Complementing
ART X ICON, The Masterclass will place emerging artists in dialogue with Ladi
Kwali's legacy, creating an opportunity to explore the relationship between
traditional artistic knowledge and contemporary creative practice.
The
programme will select 10 emerging artists from across disciplines including
painting, sculpture, photography, film, textiles, digital practice, performance
and ceramics, providing opportunities for intimate conversations and meaningful
engagement with established creative practitioners.
Speaking
on the partnership, Dame Dr. Adaora Umeoji, OON, Group Managing Director/CEO,
Zenith Bank Plc, commented:
"At
Zenith Bank, we recognise that the growth of the creative economy requires both
the preservation of our cultural heritage and sustained investment in the
talents shaping its future. Our continued partnership with ART X Lagos reflects
our belief in the importance of supporting platforms that celebrate African
artistic excellence, strengthen cultural institutions and create opportunities
for emerging creatives. We remain committed to supporting initiatives that
unlock the economic and cultural value of Nigeria's creative industry and
enable African creativity to gain even greater recognition on the global stage."
Tokini
Peterside-Schwebig, Founder and Director of ART X Lagos, said:
"As
ART X Lagos enters its second decade, we are immensely grateful for the
continued partnership of sponsors such as Zenith Bank, whose support reflects a
shared commitment to advancing Nigeria's creative and cultural landscape.
Partnerships like this are instrumental in sustaining our vision, deepening our
impact and creating lasting opportunities for African creativity to thrive on a
global scale."
Beyond ART
X ICON and The Masterclass, ART X Lagos 2026 will feature 15 exhibitors across
its Main and Spotlight sections, alongside a diverse programme of Special
Projects, including Ndidi Dike's Residues of Past Encounters: 2024–2026,
The ART X Library and Speakers' Corner.
The fair's
wider multidisciplinary programme will also feature ART X Cinema, ART X Live!,
ART X Talks, Art Across Borders and the Schools' Programme, celebrating the
breadth and diversity of contemporary creativity from Africa and its diaspora.
ART X
Lagos 2026 takes place from 5–8 November 2026 at Federal Palace, Victoria
Island, Lagos.
About
Zenith Bank Plc
Zenith
Bank Plc is a multinational financial services institution headquartered in
Lagos, Nigeria. Founded in 1990 by Jim Ovia, CFR, it is one of Africa's
foremost financial institutions with a shareholders' fund of ₦4.92 trillion
(2025) and a footprint spanning Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, Côte
d’Ivoire, Kenya, the UK, France, UAE and China. The Bank has built a reputation
for innovation, customer-centricity and excellence in financial services. It
offers comprehensive retail, commercial and corporate banking solutions,
supported by advanced digital platforms and an extensive physical network.
Zenith Bank drives financial inclusion and sustainable development while
maintaining strong corporate governance and financial performance. With a clear
focus on People, Technology and Service, the Bank is committed to creating
value for customers, stakeholders and the wider economy.
About
ART X Lagos
ART X
Lagos, the leading international art fair in West Africa, was founded by Tokini
Peterside-Schwebig in 2016 to celebrate contemporary culture from Africa and
its diaspora. Drawing artists and galleries from over 70 countries and visitors
from 170 nations, it has played a pivotal role in redefining the African
narrative. Its multidisciplinary programming, spanning art, music, literature
and film, features initiatives like ART X Live!, ART X Cinema and ART X Talks.
From its inaugural edition, ART X Lagos extended an open invitation to cultural
curators across Lagos to programme around the fair, sparking the art week and
season in Nigeria, an annual highlight of the country's art scene. ART X Lagos
additionally champions emerging talent through programmes such as Resonance,
The Masterclass, the ART X Prize and The Development Forum. It serves as a
transformative cultural catalyst and a cornerstone of the African art sector
today, shaping the future of African art and its global narrative.
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