What ART X Lagos does

ART X Lagos is a Lagos-based, privately held art fair and cultural platform founded in 2016 by Tokini Peterside-Schwebig, operating under the legal name ART X Collective. It runs the premier international art fair in West Africa, held annually in Lagos (next edition: November 5-8, 2026), with a digital platform that was launched in 2020 to host online exhibitions. The fair features exhibitors and artists from 70+ countries and has drawn participants from 170 nations worldwide, with a cumulative 30,000+ guests and 300 artists showcased across its history.

Beyond the core fair, ART X Lagos has built a multi-track programming ecosystem: ART X Live! (music), ART X Cinema (African film), ART X Talks (discourse), ART X ICON (photography masterclass), the ACCESS ART X Prize (emerging-artist recognition, sponsored by Access Bank since 2017), Art Across Borders (continental showcase, in partnership with Afreximbank), the Development Forum, the Schools' Programme (educational outreach to underserved Lagos youth), The Projects (curated installations), and the RESONANCE residency (a 3-month, fully financed programme co-constructed with Cité internationale des arts in Paris, the Embassy of France in Nigeria, and Institut Français du Nigeria). The organization also created Lagos Art Week in 2016 by inviting city-wide cultural programming around the fair.

The business model combines four revenue streams: exhibitor booth fees from international and African galleries, multi-tier corporate sponsorships (Silver, Bronze, category, venue, and media partners), ticket sales from public attendance, and merchandise sold through a Shopify storefront. The organization serves four primary customer segments — art galleries and dealers, contemporary artists, art collectors and patrons, and students/youth — and operates with a 16+ person core team plus named curators across programme tracks.

Name

ART X Lagos

Legal name

ART X Collective

Website

https://artxlagos.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ART X Lagos is a Lagos-based international art fair founded in 2016 by Tokini Peterside-Schwebig, running an annual contemporary art fair and multidisciplinary programming — exhibitions, talks, cinema, live music, prizes, and residencies — for galleries, artists, collectors, and youth across Africa and the diaspora.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Art Fair Services

NAICS

Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121), Amusement Parks and Arcades (7131)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

General Consumer Expos & Trade Shows (MPAGAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Arts, Crafts & Maker Fairs (MPAGAFAJ)

Keywords

• Contemporary art fair
• Art exhibitions
• Cultural programming
• Artist residencies
• Art prize competition

Headquarters

HQ city

Lagos

HQ country

Nigeria

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Exhibitor Booth Fees: Galleries and art dealers pay booth fees to exhibit at the fair. The fair hosts exhibitors from across Africa and the diaspora annually.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Multiple tier sponsorship program including Silver, Bronze sponsors, category sponsors, venue partners, and media partners. Sponsors include Access Bank, Afreximbank, and various corporate entities.
3. Ticket Sales: Public attendance at the annual fair generates revenue through ticket sales. The fair has welcomed over 30,000 guests.
4. Merchandise/Shop: Online shop available at https://253150-77.myshopify.com for merchandise and art-related products.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ART X Lagos operates the premier international art fair in West Africa, held annually in Lagos, Nigeria. The fair brings together galleries from over 70 countries to exhibit and sell contemporary art from Africa and the diaspora. Beyond the core fair, it offers integrated programmes including ART X Live! (music), ART X Cinema (film), ART X Talks, ART X Prize, Art Across Borders, The Development Forum, Schools' Programme, The Projects, Resonance residency, and Lagos Art Week.

Product overview

ART X Lagos is the premier international art fair in West Africa, founded in 2016 by Tokini Peterside-Schwebig. It operates as a dynamic platform celebrating and championing contemporary culture from Africa and its diaspora. The annual fair has expanded into a comprehensive cultural platform comprising multiple integrated programmes: the core ART X Lagos art fair exhibition; ART X Live! for music performances; ART X Cinema for African filmmaking; ART X Talks for dialogue and discourse; ART X Prize for emerging talent; Art Across Borders for continental artists; The Development Forum for industry dialogue; Schools' Programme for youth engagement; The Projects for curated installations; Resonance residency for artists; and Lagos Art Week for city-wide events. The next edition is scheduled for November 5-8, 2026.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ART X Lagos Art Fair The premier international art fair in West Africa, held annually in Lagos, Nigeria. Provides exhibition booth space to galleries from over 70 countries showcasing contemporary art from Africa and the diaspora. Welcomes over 30,000 guests.
• ART X Live! A music platform featuring trailblazing musicians and visual artists delivering performances merged through diverse genres, presented as part of the annual ART X Lagos programme.
• ART X Cinema An immersive audio-visual experience showcasing works of filmmakers from across Africa and its diaspora, featuring films that delve into how filmmakers disrupt, imagine and reinvent.
• ART X Talks A vibrant discursive space fostering dialogue and sharing unique perspectives through African art, addressing pressing issues in Nigeria, Africa, and the diaspora. Features keynote speakers such as El Anatsui, Njideka Akunyili-Crosby, Yinka Shonibare CBE, Wangechi Mutu, Bruce Onobrakpeya, and Ibrahim Mahama.
• ART X Prize (ACCESS ART X Prize) A prestigious platform for recognising and nurturing emerging artistic talent from Africa and its diaspora. Sponsored by Access Bank, winners receive solo exhibitions and career development support.
• Art Across Borders An exhibition highlighting exceptional artists within the African community, in partnership with Afreximbank, showcasing innovative spirit from across the continent's regions.
• The Development Forum An open dialogue between the new generation of African artists and the established professional art industry, exploring paths for building and advancing careers in the African art sector.
• Schools' Programme An educational outreach programme making art accessible and engaging for students of schools in underserved communities across Lagos. Reached 750 young people in 2024. Sponsored by ZTL Liquids Transfer in 2025.
• Resonance Residency Programme An annual residency programme for curators, visual artists, and designers based in Nigeria, co-constructed with Cité internationale des arts in Paris and the Embassy of France in Nigeria. The 3-month fully financed residency includes a live-in studio, monthly living allowance, and travel coverage.
• Lagos Art Week A city-wide programme highlighting the dynamism of the Lagos art scene through events featuring the most exciting spaces and artists in the city. An annual highlight of Nigeria's art scene.
• ART X ICON An exhibition and masterclass honouring the legacy of Nigerian photography masters, beginning with J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere, whose lens captured Nigeria's cultural identity with depth and discipline.
• ART X Lagos Online Shop An online Shopify-based store selling merchandise and art-related products to support the ART X Lagos brand and cultural platform.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 30,000 guests welcomed since 2016
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AfreximbankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAfreximbank partners with ART X Lagos on Art Across Borders, an exhibition highlighting exceptional artists within the African community. The partnership showcases artists from various regions of the continent representing the innovative spirit defining their ecosystems.
• Cité internationale des artscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCité internationale des arts in Paris co-constructs RESONANCE, an annual residency programme for visual artists, curators, and designers based in Nigeria. The 3-month fully financed residency includes a live-in studio, monthly living allowance, and travel coverage.
• Embassy of France in Nigeria / Institut Français du NigeriacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Embassy of France in Nigeria and Institut Français du Nigeria co-construct the RESONANCE residency programme with ART X Lagos and Cité internationale des arts, facilitating mobility and supporting research for Nigerian art scene professionals.
• The Federal Palace HotelminorOthersThe Federal Palace Hotel serves as the venue partner for ART X Lagos, hosting the annual fair and providing the physical space for exhibitions and events.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• AKAA (Also Known As Africa): Paris-based contemporary art fair focused on Africa and its diaspora, founded in 2016 (same year as ART X Lagos). Directly comparable mission and exhibition-driven revenue model in the European cultural capital.
• Investec Cape Town Art Fair: Another leading African contemporary art fair held annually in Cape Town. Competes for the same pool of African and diaspora galleries, sponsors, and collectors as ART X Lagos.
• FNB Art Joburg: South Africa's flagship international contemporary art fair (formerly FNB Joburg Art Fair). Directly comparable as a tier-1 African art fair with tiered sponsorships, gallery booths, and a curatorial programme serving African and diaspora galleries.
• 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair: Founded in 2013, dedicated exclusively to contemporary African art, with editions in London, New York, and Marrakech. Closest peer to ART X Lagos in mission (showcasing African contemporary art) and booth-based exhibition model serving international galleries and diaspora collectors.

Broad incumbents

• The Armory Show: JPMorgan-sponsored contemporary art fair held annually in New York. Reference comparable for tier-1 sponsorship integration, gallery booth economics, and curated platform programming.
• Art Basel: The global benchmark art fair (Basel, Miami Beach, Hong Kong, Paris). Useful as the upper-bound benchmark for tiered fair economics, gallery relations, and collector programming even though it is not Africa-focused.
• Frieze: Major global contemporary art fair operator (London, New York, Seoul, Los Angeles). Comparable as a multi-program fair ecosystem with adjacent fairs (Frieze Music, Frieze Film) that mirror ART X's multi-program platform strategy.
• TEFAF: Premium global art and antiques fair in Maastricht (with newer outposts). Comparable as a tier-1 art fair with rigorous vetting, sponsorship tiers, and a high-net-worth collector audience.
• Art Dubai: One of the largest international art fairs, with significant overlap in its Modern/Contemporary African galleries segment. Larger global footprint and broader scope, but overlapping exhibitor base and collector audience.

Emerging players

• Art Lagos: Emerging Lagos-based contemporary art fair competing in the same city and overlapping collector pool. Useful as a same-market emerging entrant with potential to fragment West African fair market share.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/artxlagos
• Facebookfacebook.com/artxlagos
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/artxcollective

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ART X Lagos