Founded by Tokini Peterside, ART X Collective is a company that builds platforms and businesses to empower Africa's creative talent. ART X Collective’s current platforms include:
ART X Lagos – the premier international art fair in West Africa
ART X Prize – the leading arts prize in Nigeria for emerging artists
ART X Live! – a dynamic show that merges visual art and live music.
ART X Prize – the leading arts prize in Nigeria for emerging artists
ART X Live! – a dynamic show that merges visual art and live music.
The company also includes an advisory arm, and since 2013 has supported pioneering entrepreneurs and brands across the culture, design and luxury sectors.
The company was formerly known as TP-Collective.
ART X LAGOS
ART X Lagos is West Africa’s premier international art fair, designed to showcase the best and most innovative contemporary and modern art from the African continent and its Diaspora. Launched in 2016, the art fair has since become a cornerstone of the Lagos art calendar, drawing local patrons and a host of international collectors, curators, and critics annually.
Since its debut, four editions of ART X Lagos have held, welcoming over 31,000 visitors to see the works of Africa’s leading established and emerging artists, including representatives of institutions such as the Tate Modern, Zeitz MOCAA, the National Museum of African Art at the Smithsonian, the Art Institute of Chicago and Centre Pompidou.
Special exhibitions and projects have featured world-renowned artists such as Wangechi Mutu, Njideka Akunyili-Crosby, Yinka Shonibare CBE, El Anatsui and the world famous ‘Tutu’ painting by Ben Enwonwu, the highest sold African modernist painting at auction.
As a result, ART X Lagos has been featured extensively in global media such the New York Times, the Financial Times, CNN, the BBC, The Times, Vogue, Le Monde (France), Apollo Magazine, Harper’s Bazaar Art and more, reaching audiences of over 3 billion people around the world.
4
Years Running
300
Artists
31,000
Attendees
3B
People Reached
ART X Prize
The ART X Prize, currently titled The Access Bank ART X Prize, is the number one prize for emerging artists in Nigeria, created to bolster the efforts of emerging artists who have demonstrated a commitment to careers as professional visual artists. In the absence of infrastructure that exists in other international centres for contemporary art, the Prize was launched to contribute to the burgeoning contemporary art sector in Nigeria.
The Prize is judged by a jury of internationally acclaimed artists and practitioners. Previous jurors have included Yinka Shonibare CBE; Sokari Douglas Camp CBE; Ibrahim Mahama; Wura-Natasha Ogunji; Emeka Ogboh; Zina Saro-Wiwa; Professor Bruce Onobrakpeya, and more.
The Prize winner receives a cash grant of N 1,500,000; a solo presentation at ART X Lagos; a three-month residency at Gasworks, London; and mentoring and networking support to realize, promote, and contextualize the project.
The Access Bank ART X Prize is sponsored by Access Bank, in partnership with the British Council & Gasworks.
4
Winners
99
Applications
13
Artists exhibited at ART X Lagos
ART X Live!
ART X Live! is a fusion of live music and visual art, that provides a platform for expression and experimentation to Africa’s dynamic young creators. Launched in 2016, the platform orchestrates exciting collaborations between some of the fastest-rising visual and sound artists on the continent. Each year ART X Live! delivers an immersive, one-of-a-kind showcase for invited guests, on the penultimate night of the ART X Lagos fair.
The show fuses multiple genres of art and entertainment, delivering an entirely unique artistic experience.
ART X Live! has been a significant launchpad for many of Nigeria’s exciting creative talent who have since pursued successful professional, and in certain cases, international careers.
Notable ART X Live! alumni include Teni “the entertainer”, Odunsi “the engine”, WurlD, Lady Donli, Wavy “the creator”, Williams Chechet, Tunde Alara, Simi, and Falana.
4
Concerts
19
Musicians
11
Visual Artists
2,500
Invited Guests
Consulting Services
Since 2013, ART X Collective has supported pioneering entrepreneurs and brands across the culture, design and luxury sectors within West Africa. Former clients have included ALARA (a luxury lifestyle concept store), and Maki Oh (one of Nigeria’s foremost womenswear designers, whose clothes have been worn by Michelle Obama), amongst others.
The consultancy business has since expanded to focus on large scale projects that contribute to the wider ambition of re-shaping the African narrative and transforming the culture sector, on an institutional and state level.