Zenith Bank Plc has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing Nigeria’s creative and cultural panorama through its continued sponsorship of ART X Lagos 2026, happening from November 5-8, 2026, at Federal Palace, Lagos.
Building on its assist for the honest’s landmark tenth-anniversary version in 2025, the Bank returns as a Silver Sponsor for the eleventh version, reinforcing its commitment to platforms that commemorate African creative excellence, protect cultural heritage and create alternatives for rising creative expertise.
Founded by Tokini Peterside-Schwebig in 2016, ART X Lagos is a number one worldwide cultural platform devoted to showcasing up to date art from Africa and its diaspora. Through its multidisciplinary programming, the honest has turn out to be an vital platform for connecting artists, galleries, collectors and cultural establishments whereas selling African creativity on the worldwide stage. Since its inception, ART X Lagos has introduced collectively artists and galleries from over 70 international locations, welcoming contributors from 170 nations worldwide.
The eleventh version of ART X Lagos will maintain beneath the theme: A New Chapter, A New Decade, reflecting on the artists, architects, educators and thinkers who formed modernism in Nigeria. The theme explores how cultural inheritance can encourage new varieties of creative expression and prospects for the longer term.
Through its sponsorship, Zenith Bank helps the continued development of ART X Lagos as a global platform for creative change, cultural preservation and creative enterprise, strengthening connections throughout Africa’s creative ecosystem and fostering alternatives for development and collaboration.
As half of its broader sponsorship of ART X Lagos 2026, Zenith Bank will assist two key programmes: ART X ICON and The Masterclass. While ART X ICON celebrates the achievements and enduring contributions of Nigeria’s creative pioneers, The Masterclass creates alternatives for rising creatives to study, have interaction and develop their apply.
In this eleventh version, the main focus of ART X ICON is turned to pioneering Nigerian potter Ladi Dosei Kwali (1925–1984) with Ladi Kwali: Beyond the Vessel, conceived and developed by curator Dr Jareh Das.
Widely recognised because the face on Nigeria’s 20-naira notice, Ladi Kwali is widely known for her extraordinary contribution to Nigerian ceramics and her position in bringing conventional Nigerian pottery to worldwide prominence. Drawing on generations of indigenous pottery information, she developed a particular creative apply that earned her worldwide recognition.
Bringing collectively ceramics and archival supplies from the National Museum in Lagos, alongside works from non-public lenders, Ladi Kwali: Beyond the Vessel gives a deeper exploration of the artist’s life, apply and enduring affect.
The exhibition will even function works by girls potters who labored alongside and after Kwali, together with Kande Ushafa and Asibi Ido, in addition to conventional pottery by Gbari, Nupe and Bida potters. Together, these works illuminate the creative traditions Kwali inherited, the improvements she launched, and the information carried ahead by subsequent generations.
Complementing ART X ICON, The Masterclass will place rising artists in dialogue with Ladi Kwali’s legacy, creating a possibility to discover the connection between conventional creative information and up to date creative apply.
The programme will choose 10 rising artists from throughout disciplines together with portray, sculpture, pictures, movie, textiles, digital apply, efficiency and ceramics, offering alternatives for intimate conversations and significant engagement with established creative practitioners.
Speaking on the partnership, Dame Dr. Adaora Umeoji, OON, Group Managing Director/CEO, 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, mentioned:
“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 function 15 exhibitors throughout its Main and Spotlight sections, alongside a various programme of Special Projects, together with Ndidi Dike’s Residues of Past Encounters: 2024–2026, The ART X Library and Speakers’ Corner.
The honest’s wider multidisciplinary programme will even function ART X Cinema, ART X Live!, ART X Talks, Art Across Borders and the Schools’ Programme, celebrating the breadth and variety of up to date creativity from Africa and its diaspora.
ART X Lagos 2026 takes place from 5–8 November 2026 at Federal Palace, Victoria Island, Lagos.
