Zenith Bank Extends ART X Lagos Partnership, Championing Nigerian Artistic Heritage and Emerging Talent

Building on its support for ART X Lagos’ landmark tenth anniversary, Zenith Bank has renewed its partnership with the fair, underscoring a long-term dedication to African artistic excellence, cultural preservation, and the development of emerging creative talent.

Zenith Bank Plc has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing Nigeria’s creative and cultural landscape through its continued sponsorship of ART X Lagos 2026, scheduled for 5 to 8 November 2026 at Federal Palace, Lagos. Following its backing of the fair’s tenth-anniversary edition in 2025, the bank returns as a Silver Sponsor for the 11th iteration, reinforcing its dedication to platforms that celebrate African artistry, safeguard cultural heritage, and create pathways for emerging talent.

Founded by Tokini Peterside-Schwebig in 2016, ART X Lagos has established itself as a premier international cultural platform dedicated to showcasing contemporary art from Africa and its diaspora. Through multidisciplinary programming, the fair connects artists, galleries, collectors, and cultural institutions while promoting African creativity globally. Since its inception, ART X Lagos has convened participants from over 70 countries and welcomed visitors from 170 nations.

The 11th edition will unfold 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 future possibilities.

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, Zenith Bank will underwrite two key programmes: ART X ICON and The Masterclass. ART X ICON honours the achievements and enduring contributions of Nigeria’s artistic pioneers, while The Masterclass creates opportunities for emerging creatives to learn, engage, and develop their practice.

For this 11th edition, ART X ICON spotlights 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 global 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, Dr Adaora Umeoji, Group Managing Director/CEO of 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, 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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