Soto Gallery
Soto Gallery is a contemporary art gallery in Lagos, Nigeria, founded in 2022 by Tola Akerele. It runs curated exhibitions, the +234 Art Fair, and an Annual Residency Programme, serving artists, collectors, and the Nigerian contemporary art community.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2022
- HeadquartersIkoyi, Nigeria
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Soto Gallery does
Soto Gallery is a contemporary art gallery founded in September 2022 by Tola Akerele, headquartered in Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria. It operates three core offerings: a continuous programme of curated gallery exhibitions, the +234 Art Fair (described as one of Nigeria's largest art fairs), and an Annual Residency Programme for artists. Its stated philosophy is inclusive and community-driven, positioning the gallery as a connector between artists, collectors, curators, and the broader Nigerian contemporary art ecosystem.
The underlying technology stack is operational rather than product-oriented: standard gallery exhibition management, event ticketing and logistics for the +234 Art Fair, a company website, and audience development via social media channels (Instagram, X, LinkedIn) plus a newsletter. There is no proprietary digital platform, marketplace, or software product disclosed in the input, and no AI/ML components are mentioned.
The business model combines three revenue mechanics: commission-based sales of artworks exhibited in the gallery, transaction and participation fees associated with the +234 Art Fair, and professional-services fees from the Annual Residency Programme. The company is privately held, founder-owned, operates with 1–10 employees, has not disclosed external funding or revenue, and is supported by a single significant institutional partnership with Ecobank Nigeria tied to the art fair. Distribution is concentrated in one physical Lagos location.
Soto Gallery firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Soto Gallery
- Legal name
- Soto Gallery
- Website
- https://sotogallery.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2022
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Soto Gallery is a contemporary art gallery in Lagos, Nigeria, founded in 2022 by Tola Akerele. It runs curated exhibitions, the +234 Art Fair, and an Annual Residency Programme, serving artists, collectors, and the Nigerian contemporary art community.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Soto Gallery industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Art Gallery Services
- NAICS
- Art Dealers (459920), Art Dealers (45992), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Art Galleries & Exhibition Spaces (Commercial & Nonprofit) (THAJADAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Museum, Zoo & Attraction Gift Shops (CRALAJAG), Arts & Crafts Workshops (Painting, Pottery, Ceramics, Sculpture) (THAJAKAA)
Keywords
Where Soto Gallery is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Ikoyi
- HQ country
- Nigeria
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices1 record
Markets served
Soto Gallery business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Art Sales: The gallery sells artworks from its represented and featured artists through exhibitions held at its physical gallery space in Ikoyi, Lagos. Collectors and buyers attend exhibitions and purchase works directly.
- +234Art Fair: Soto Gallery curates and organizes the +234Art Fair, one of Nigeria's largest art fairs, creating revenue through ticket sales, vendor fees, and increased art transaction volume during the event.
- Annual Residency Programme: The gallery runs an annual artist residency programme that generates revenue through programme fees and attracts emerging artists to the Soto Gallery ecosystem.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Soto Gallery product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Soto Gallery is a community-centered contemporary art gallery in Ikoyi, Lagos that sells artworks through rotating exhibitions of African artists, curates the +234Art Fair (one of Nigeria's largest art fairs), and runs an annual artist residency programme. The gallery presents works by represented and featured artists on-site and via the annual fair, with private sales arranged directly with collectors and buyers.
Product overview
Soto Gallery is a community-centered art gallery and creative platform based in Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria, founded by Tola Akerele in September 2022. The company operates as a unified offering centered on promoting African art through three interconnected programs: gallery exhibitions featuring contemporary African artists, the annual +234Art Fair (one of Nigeria's largest art fairs), and an annual residency programme supporting emerging artists. The gallery focuses on mindfulness and inclusivity, offering transformative experiences of African art in its varied forms through immersive exchanges and art education.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Soto Gallery Exhibitions A community-centered art gallery space hosting rotating exhibitions featuring contemporary African artists, presenting works by both represented and invited artists on themes from postcolonial identity to economic narratives; art is sold directly to visitors and collectors at the Ikoyi gallery.
- +234Art Fair An annual art fair curated by Soto Gallery and recognized as one of the biggest art fairs in Nigeria, providing a platform for African artists to showcase work, access markets, and transact sales; held in Lagos with revenue from ticket sales, vendor fees, and increased art transaction volume during the event.
- Soto Gallery Annual Residency Programme An annual residency programme providing emerging African artists with immersive art education, masterclasses, and engagement with the Lagos artistic landscape; generates revenue through programme fees and feeds artists into the Soto Gallery exhibition ecosystem.
Quantifiable outcome
- Successfully hosted third edition of +234Art Fair in March 2026, creating market access for creative entrepreneurs
Companies that use Soto Gallery
Customer profileNamed customers27 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Soto Gallery technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Soto Gallery partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Ecobank NigeriacoreEcobank Nigeria has maintained a continued partnership with Soto Gallery to host the third edition of the +234Art Fair in Lagos from March 5-8, 2026, themed 'Inclusivity.' The partnership aims to create an enabling environment for creative entrepreneurs to thrive and expand access to markets and platforms. Ecobank's head of SME, partnership, and collaboration, Omoboye Odu, stated the fair supports the creative economy.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Soto Gallery competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Goodman Gallery: Established contemporary art gallery in Johannesburg, Cape Town, and London with a strong African and diaspora roster. Competes for top African artists and international collector mindshare with African-focused programmes.
- October Gallery: Long-running London gallery specialising in contemporary African and Asian art, with an established international collector base. Comparable in curatorial focus on African contemporary art but with a far longer track record and global reach.
- Stevenson: Major contemporary African art gallery with spaces in Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Amsterdam, representing leading African artists internationally. A larger incumbent competing for the same artist and collector pool as Soto Gallery.
Direct peers
- Gallery 1957: Contemporary African art gallery with spaces in Accra and London, representing emerging and established African artists. Directly comparable to Soto Gallery in mission, artist profile, and gallery-plus-programming model.
- Rele Art Gallery: Lagos-based contemporary African art gallery founded in 2018, hosting exhibitions and residencies for Nigerian and African artists. Operates in the same Lagos ecosystem and targets overlapping collectors and artists as Soto Gallery.
- Nike Art Gallery: Prominent Nigerian art gallery and retail space in Lagos founded by Nike Davies-Okundaye, exhibiting traditional and contemporary Nigerian artists. Comparable as a Lagos-based gallery selling Nigerian art to collectors and walk-in visitors.
- Signature Beyond Gallery: Lagos-based contemporary art gallery representing Nigerian and African artists through exhibitions and art fairs. Operates in the same Lagos collector market with overlapping target segments.
- Art Twenty One: Lagos contemporary art gallery focused on modern and contemporary African art with regular exhibition programming. Comparable in size, geography, and curatorial approach to Soto Gallery.
Regional players
- Addis Fine Art: Contemporary African art gallery with spaces in Addis Ababa and London, focused on East African and diaspora artists. Comparable in contemporary African art mission and gallery-plus-fair model, but anchored in a different regional market.
Emerging players
- Tyburn Gallery: London-based gallery showcasing contemporary African art and emerging international artists. Comparable in mission and artist profile to Soto Gallery, though operating primarily in the UK market.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Soto Gallery social profiles
Digital presenceSoto Gallery financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Soto Gallery leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Soto Gallery funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Soto Gallery M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Soto Gallery
What does Soto Gallery do?
Soto Gallery is a community-centered contemporary art gallery in Ikoyi, Lagos that sells artworks through rotating exhibitions of African artists, curates the +234Art Fair (one of Nigeria's largest art fairs), and runs an annual artist residency programme. The gallery presents works by represented and featured artists on-site and via the annual fair, with private sales arranged directly with collectors and buyers.
Is Soto Gallery a public or private company?
Soto Gallery is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Soto Gallery founded?
Soto Gallery was founded in 2022. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Soto Gallery based?
Soto Gallery is headquartered in Ikoyi, Nigeria, in the Africa region.
How does Soto Gallery make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Art Sales are the primary driver. The others are +234Art Fair and annual Residency Programme.
Who are Soto Gallery's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Goodman Gallery, October Gallery and Stevenson. Direct peers are Gallery 1957, Rele Art Gallery, Nike Art Gallery, Signature Beyond Gallery and Art Twenty One. Addis Fine Art is listed as a regional player. Tyburn Gallery is listed as an emerging player.
Does Soto Gallery have an API?
No public API is recorded for Soto Gallery.
What industry is Soto Gallery in?
Soto Gallery's product category is Art Gallery Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAJADAH, Art Galleries & Exhibition Spaces (Commercial & Nonprofit), with a secondary code of CRALAJAG, Museum, Zoo & Attraction Gift Shops. Its NAICS code is 459920 and its SIC code is 7900.