Zenith Bank has renewed ART X Lagos sponsorship and backed African Creative Economy in 2026.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that Zenith Bank Plc has renewed its sponsorship of ART X Lagos for the 11th edition, reinforcing its commitment to promoting African artistic excellence, preserving cultural heritage and supporting emerging creative talents.
Zenith Bank Plc has reaffirmed its commitment to Nigeria’s creative and cultural industry through its continued sponsorship of ART X Lagos 2026, scheduled to hold from November 5 to 8 at the Federal Palace, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Building on its support for the fair’s landmark 10th-anniversary edition in 2025, the bank returns as a Silver Sponsor for the 11th edition, strengthening its backing for platforms that showcase African artistic excellence, preserve cultural heritage and create opportunities for emerging creatives.
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Founded by Tokini Peterside-Schwebig in 2016, ART X Lagos has grown into a leading international cultural platform showcasing contemporary art from Africa and its diaspora.
Through its multidisciplinary programmes, the fair connects artists, galleries, collectors and cultural institutions while providing a platform for African creativity to gain international recognition.
Since its establishment, ART X Lagos has brought together artists and galleries from more than 70 countries, welcoming participants from 170 nations worldwide.
The 2026 edition will be held under the theme, A New Chapter, A New Decade, reflecting on the contributions of artists, architects, educators and thinkers who shaped modernism in Nigeria.
The theme explores how cultural heritage and artistic traditions can inspire new forms of expression and creative possibilities for the future.
As part of its sponsorship, Zenith Bank will support two major programmes at the fair: ART X ICON and The Masterclass.
ART X ICON celebrates the achievements and enduring contributions of pioneering Nigerian artists, while The Masterclass provides emerging creatives with opportunities to learn from established practitioners and develop their artistic practice.
For the 2026 edition, ART X ICON will spotlight pioneering Nigerian potter Ladi Dosei Kwali (1925–1984) through an exhibition titled Ladi Kwali: Beyond the Vessel, conceived and developed by curator Dr Jareh Das.
Kwali, widely recognised as the face on Nigeria’s N20 note, is celebrated for her 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 and established her as one of Nigeria’s most celebrated ceramic artists.
The exhibition will bring together ceramics and archival materials from the National Museum in Lagos, alongside works from private lenders, offering visitors a deeper understanding of Kwali’s life, artistic practice and lasting influence.
It 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.
The collection will explore the artistic traditions Kwali inherited, the innovations she introduced and the indigenous knowledge passed down through subsequent generations.
Complementing the exhibition, The Masterclass will connect emerging artists with Kwali’s legacy, encouraging conversations around the relationship between traditional artistic knowledge and contemporary creative practice.
The programme will select 10 emerging artists from disciplines including painting, sculpture, photography, film, textiles, digital practice, performance and ceramics for intimate conversations and engagement with established creative practitioners.
Speaking on the partnership, the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Zenith Bank, Dame Dr Adaora Umeoji, OON, said the bank recognises the importance of preserving cultural heritage while investing in the talents shaping the future of the creative economy.
“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,” she said.
The Founder and Director of ART X Lagos, Tokini Peterside-Schwebig, expressed appreciation for the bank’s continued partnership, noting that corporate support remains important to the growth and sustainability of the creative sector.
“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,” she said.
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 fair’s wider multidisciplinary programme will also include ART X Cinema, ART X Live!, ART X Talks, Art Across Borders and the Schools’ Programme, highlighting the diversity of contemporary artistic expression across Africa and its diaspora.
Zenith Bank’s continued sponsorship underscores its support for the development of Nigeria’s creative economy and the role of cultural platforms in connecting African artists with international audiences.
ART X Lagos 2026 will take place from November 5 to 8, 2026, at the Federal Palace, Victoria Island, Lagos.
