Stunning art and photography on show in Nigeria for West Africa’s premier art fair - ART X Lagos

Travel bans aside, you can now virtually make it all the way to Nigeria this December for West Africa’s premier art fair ART X Lagos. Here, the stylish works of Boris Anje, Wole Lagunju and photographer Bernard Matussiere who will be showcasing their incredible art along with a host of others from 2-9 December.

In a year that has given most of us a reason to reflect and pivot, these galleries represent the resilience and creativity of the African continent and its Diaspora. Visitors to the online fair will be able to explore 200 works from leading artists offering up new perspectives on histories grounded in Africa and its people. The ten galleries presenting works are: Bloom Art, Kó (formerly Arthouse - The Space), Nike Art Gallery, Ed Cross Fine Art, Galerie MAM Douala, Nubuke Foundation, LouiSimone Guirandou Gallery, SMO Contemporary Art, Galerie Cécile Fakhoury and Out of Africa Gallery.

In 2020, is there no image more ‘2020’ than a beautiful young black woman wearing a mask with body and background adorned in luxury brands? Filled with logos and stylish iconography from famous fashion brands such as Hermés, Fendi and Dior, Boris Ange’s tackles social issues from coronavirus pandemic and racial injustice. His Instagram-ready models are painted to look as though they are drawn from black and white photos, with lively clothing and accessories delivering dazzling colours.

The works of Wole Lagunju, which have been exhibited all over the world at major fairs in London and Paris, represent quintessentially modern and stylish individuals in vintage clothing and fabrics from the fifties and the sixties. While French photographer Bernard Matussiere reveals an icon's striking presence and lifestyle as he captured pivotal moments in the life of Africa's most storied musician when he joined Fela Kuti on tour in the early 80s. He quickly became a fly on the wall-like presence around the artist, surrounded by those close to him, most notably the Kalakuta Queens.

ART X Collective’s flagship platform, ART X Lagos, has become a firm cornerstone of the African art calendar. Since its debut in 2016, the art fair (which is the first of its kind in West Africa) has welcomed more than 30,000 visitors, including international and regional art collectors, patrons of the arts, scholars, critics and more. The fair has also hosted delegations from leading global art institutions who have experienced the cutting edge of African contemporary and modern art at ART X Lagos - these attendees and the satellite exhibitions that have emerged in response to the fair, are undoubtedly indicators of Lagos’ position as a fast-emerging and exciting cultural hub.

www.artxlagos.com

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