Bank backs 11th edition, supports celebration of Ladi Kwali’s artistic legacy and emerging creatives
Zenith Bank Plc has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting Africa’s creative economy and preserving cultural heritage through its continued sponsorship of ART X Lagos 2026, scheduled to hold from November 5 to 8 at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Returning as a Silver Sponsor for the 11th edition, the Bank is building on its support for the fair’s landmark 10th anniversary in 2025, reinforcing its commitment to promoting African artistic excellence, celebrating cultural heritage and creating opportunities for emerging creative talents.
Founded in 2016 by Tokini Peterside-Schwebig, ART X Lagos has evolved into a leading international platform for contemporary African art and creativity. The fair brings together artists, galleries, collectors and cultural institutions from across the world, providing opportunities for artistic exchange and showcasing African creativity on the global stage. Since its inception, it has featured artists and galleries from more than 70 countries and welcomed participants from 170 nations.
The 2026 edition, themed “A New Chapter, A New Decade,” will reflect on the contributions of artists, architects, educators and thinkers who shaped modernism in Nigeria, while exploring how cultural heritage can inspire fresh artistic expressions and future possibilities.
As part of its sponsorship, Zenith Bank will support two major programmes: ART X ICON and The Masterclass. While ART X ICON celebrates the contributions of pioneering Nigerian artists, The Masterclass provides emerging creatives with opportunities to learn, exchange ideas and develop their artistic practice.
This year’s ART X ICON will spotlight legendary Nigerian potter Ladi Dosei Kwali (1925–1984) through an exhibition titled Ladi Kwali: Beyond the Vessel, conceived and developed by curator Dr Jareh Das.
Widely recognised as the woman whose portrait appears on Nigeria’s ₦20 banknote, Ladi Kwali earned international acclaim for her exceptional contribution to Nigerian ceramics and her role in bringing indigenous pottery traditions to global recognition.
The exhibition will feature ceramics and archival materials from the National Museum in Lagos, alongside works from private collections, offering a deeper insight into her life, artistic practice and enduring influence.
It will also showcase works by women potters who worked alongside or followed in her footsteps, including Kande Ushafa and Asibi Ido, as well as traditional pottery from Gbari, Nupe and Bida communities. The exhibition seeks to highlight the indigenous knowledge, artistic innovations and cultural traditions that shaped Kwali’s legacy and continue to inspire subsequent generations.
Complementing the exhibition, The Masterclass will bring emerging artists into conversations around Ladi Kwali’s artistic legacy, exploring the relationship between traditional knowledge and contemporary creative expression.
The programme will select 10 emerging artists across disciplines such as painting, sculpture, photography, film, textiles, digital art, performance and ceramics, providing opportunities for meaningful engagement with established creative practitioners.
Speaking on the partnership, Zenith Bank’s Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dame Dr Adaora Umeoji, OON, said the Bank recognises that developing the creative economy requires preserving cultural heritage while investing in the talents shaping its future.
She noted that the continued partnership with ART X Lagos reflects the Bank’s commitment to supporting platforms that celebrate African artistic excellence, strengthen cultural institutions and create opportunities for emerging creatives.
According to her, Zenith Bank remains committed to initiatives that unlock the economic and cultural value of Nigeria’s creative industry and enhance the global recognition of African creativity.
Similarly, the Founder and Director of ART X Lagos, Tokini Peterside-Schwebig, expressed appreciation for the Bank’s continued partnership as the fair enters its second decade.
She noted that support from corporate partners such as Zenith Bank remains instrumental to sustaining the fair’s vision, deepening its impact and creating lasting opportunities for African creativity to flourish internationally.
Beyond ART X ICON and The Masterclass, ART X Lagos 2026 will feature 15 exhibitors across its Main and Spotlight sections, alongside special projects including Ndidi Dike’s Residues of Past Encounters: 2024–2026, The ART X Library and Speakers’ Corner.
The multidisciplinary programme will also feature ART X Cinema, ART X Live!, ART X Talks, Art Across Borders and the Schools’ Programme, celebrating the diversity and richness of contemporary creativity from Africa and its diaspora.
ART X Lagos 2026 will hold from November 5 to 8, 2026, at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.
