The landmark tenth edition of ART X Lagos, dubbed 10X, successfully wrapped up its four-day run from November 6-9, 2025 at the Federal Palace in Lagos, cementing a full decade of cultural influence across Africa and its diaspora.
A Decade of Cultural Amplification
Under the visionary leadership of Founder and Chairman Tokini Peterside-Schwebig, the 10X edition celebrated ten years of elevating African artistic voices on the global stage. The fair unfolded across four dynamic locations within the Federal Palace grounds, including the Balmoral Marquee, Federal Palace Ballroom Marquee, expansive Federal Palace Lobby, and the scenic Waterfront Garden.
The event commenced on Thursday, November 6 with an exclusive Collectors' Preview, offering leading art patrons first access to gallery presentations and Special Projects. The following day witnessed the Official Opening Ceremony, attracting prominent figures including Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Economy and Finance Minister Wale Edun, and Arts Minister Hannatu Musa Musawa.
Record-Breaking Participation and Programming
The 10X edition achieved record attendance from both local and international audiences, affirming ART X Lagos' position as a premier global destination for African art. The fair operated under the theme "Imagining Otherwise, No Matter The Tide," encouraging exploration of imagination and agency in shaping Africa's collective future.
Fifteen curated galleries participated in the main section, representing diverse artistic voices from across Africa and its diaspora. The lineup included Affinity Art Gallery, Afriart Gallery, Alexis Galleries, Galerie MAM, Gallery 1957, kó, Nike Art Gallery, O'DA Art, SMO Contemporary, Tiwani Contemporary, Wunika Mukan Gallery, and Yenwa.
A new Spotlight Galleries section debuted this year, featuring emerging galleries ADEGBOLA, AMG Projects, and Nomadic Art Gallery presenting focused solo exhibitions by rising continental talents.
Special Projects and Iconic Exhibitions
Curated by Missla Libsekal, the Special Projects emerged as defining highlights of the 2025 edition. Nengi Omuku's 'External Realities, Internal Geographies' exhibition, sponsored by Chapel Hill Denham, transformed sanyan cloth into immersive landscapes exploring memory and restoration.
The inaugural ART X ICON exhibition, 'An Exacting Eye' sponsored by Zenith Bank, presented six decades of photographic mastery by J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere, marking a significant homecoming for his legacy. The exhibition spanned three locations within the fair, with a special extension featuring The Masterclass led by Ojeikere's son, Amaize Ojeikere.
Sculptural installations added spatial depth to the fair grounds, including Dennis Osadebe's MASS (Devotion) in the Waterfront Garden and Sokari Douglas Camp's Asoebi at the Ballroom Marquee entrance.
Educational and Community Initiatives
ART X Lagos reinforced its commitment to talent development through expanded educational programming. The Schools' Programme, sponsored by ZTL Liquids Transfer and partnering with Teach for Nigeria, engaged over 750 children through guided tours and hands-on activities.
The Development Forum continued nurturing young African talent, while new intergenerational programming welcomed families into the heart of the fair. The "Imagining Otherwise" exhibition showcased winning works by students from Mobolaji Bank Anthony School, Onitolo Community Junior High School, and Jibowu Junior High School.
Speakers' Corner, centered around a mangrove installation by social enterprise Mitimeth, hosted evolving dialogues about identity and collective future-building. Following the fair, the mangrove tree was donated to the Lagos State Government for permanent installation at Lagos House within the John Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History.
Looking Forward
As part of its tenth anniversary celebrations, ART X Lagos announced the inaugural fellows for Resonance – its annual Paris residency developed with the Embassy of France in Nigeria and Cité Internationale des Arts. The first fellows, Mobolaji Ogunrosoye, Olorunfemi Adewuyi, and Tony Agbapuonwu, were presented during the fair.
The installation in the Federal Palace Lobby dedicated to ART X ICON J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere will remain accessible to the public until December 31, 2025, allowing extended engagement with this significant cultural presentation.
Reflecting on the decade of achievement, Founder Tokini Peterside-Schwebig emphasized that "the past decade has shown that when vision meets commitment, creativity becomes a force that inspires societies and reshapes how the world sees us. The best is yet to come."
