Nigeria’s crème de la crème gather as ART X Lagos marks 10 years of resilience

L–R: Director, Afreximbank, Mr. Stephen Kauma; Chairman, Anap Jets FZE, Mr. Atedo Peterside CON; Executive Director, Zenith Bank PLC, Dr. Adobi Nwapa; Executive Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Founder and Chairman, ART X Lagos, Tokini Peterside-Schwebig; Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Finance Minister, Mr. Wale Edun; Ambassador of France to Nigeria, Mr. Marc Fonbaustier; CEO, Chapel Hill Denham, Mr. Bolaji Balogun; and CEO, Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers, Mr. Olumide Oyetan, at the Opening Ceremony of the 10th Anniversary of ART X Lagos at The Federal Palace, Lagos, over the weekend.

After four days of celebrating Africa’s creativity through art, craft and cultural expression, the tenth anniversary edition of ART X Lagos came to a close on Sunday, November 9, 2025.

The fair took place at the Federal Palace, Victoria Island, Lagos, which was transformed into a multi-layered art space across its ballroom, amphitheatre, waterfront garden and other sections.

The event drew art lovers, collectors, industry stakeholders, global media, and high-profile guests, all gathering to honour the vision and determination of Tokini Peterside-Schwebig, the Founder and Chairman of ART X Lagos.

Among the distinguished attendees were Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Minister of Finance Wale Edun, Minister of Arts, Culture & Creative Economy Hannatu Musa Musawa, and Commissioner for Tourism, Arts & Culture Toke Benson-Awoyinka. Also present were Dr. Jim Ovia CFR, Chairman & Founder of Zenith Bank; Atedo Peterside CON, Chairman of Anap Jets FZE; and Marc Fonbaustier, Ambassador of France to Nigeria, alongside leading curators, collectors, and corporate leaders.

This milestone edition, tagged “10X”, carried the theme “Imagining Otherwise, No Matter the Tide.”
The theme reflects resilience, hope and creative possibility, especially within contemporary African art.

Tokini Peterside-Schwebig explained:
“This is my 10th time standing in front of an audience to introduce the year’s edition of ART X Lagos, and honestly, it fills me with such pride and gratitude to see you all here to commemorate this moment.”

She added that the theme encourages looking beyond present challenges:

“Whatever life is throwing at you, look around you and take yourself to a higher place in your mind. Think about your abilities, your resources, everything around you… There’s so much around us that can support us to go beyond present difficulties and struggles.”

Peterside-Schwebig also reflected on imagining Lagos differently when she founded ART X in 2016:

“I saw my city as one of the most powerful cities in the world, and I wanted Lagos to take its rightful place as a convener for the African continent… The world had never seen an art fair done the way Lagos would do it.”

Over the years, ART X Lagos has grown into a cultural movement, influencing art week activities across the city, with numerous parallel exhibitions and cultural gatherings.

“What we are doing is creating a different kind of tourism experience, one that is centred in cultural ideas, pride, heritage and power,” she said.

This edition also honoured legendary Nigerian photographer J.D. Okhai Ojeikere, showcasing 200 works selected from 6,000 physical negatives to highlight six decades of artistic documentation of Nigerian identity, culture and everyday life.

With over 700,000 visitors from 170 countries in ten years, ART X Lagos has played a defining role in positioning Lagos as one of the world’s most vibrant cultural capitals, and has placed African art firmly on the global stage.

Chioma Onuh

Chioma Onuh is a journalist, social media manager and SEO specialist with over five years of experience in digital storytelling and audience engagement. She writes clear, human-centred stories and profiles, and currently manages digital content and strategy at BusinessDay.