Zenith Bank Plc has renewed its support for Africa’s creative industry through its continued sponsorship of ART X Lagos 2026, one of West Africa’s leading international art fairs.
The 11th edition of the prestigious art exhibition will hold from November 5 to 8 at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, with the bank returning as a Silver Sponsor.
The renewed partnership follows Zenith Bank’s support for the fair’s landmark 10th anniversary in 2025 and underscores its commitment to promoting African artistic excellence, preserving cultural heritage and providing opportunities for emerging talents.
Founded in 2016 by Tokini Peterside-Schwebig, ART X Lagos has grown into a major international platform for contemporary African art, bringing together artists, galleries, collectors and cultural institutions from across the world.
The fair has attracted artists and galleries from more than 70 countries, with visitors from 170 nations, helping to showcase African creativity on the global stage.
This year’s edition, themed “A New Chapter, A New Decade,” will examine the contributions of artists, architects, educators and thinkers who shaped modernism in Nigeria, while exploring how cultural heritage can inspire new artistic expressions.
As part of its sponsorship, Zenith Bank will support two major programmes, ART X ICON and The Masterclass, designed to celebrate established artistic figures and nurture the next generation of creatives.
The ART X ICON programme will spotlight legendary Nigerian potter Ladi Dosei Kwali (1925–1984) through an exhibition titled Ladi Kwali: Beyond the Vessel, conceived and developed by curator Dr Jareh Das.
Kwali, whose portrait appears on Nigeria’s N20 note, earned international recognition for her exceptional pottery skills and contribution to taking traditional Nigerian ceramics to the global stage.
The exhibition will feature ceramics and archival materials from the National Museum in Lagos, alongside works from private collections, offering fresh insights into her life, artistic journey and enduring influence.
It will also showcase works by women potters who worked alongside or followed in her footsteps, including Kande Ushafa and Asibi Ido, as well as traditional pottery from Gbari, Nupe and Bida communities.
Organisers said the exhibition would highlight the indigenous traditions Kwali inherited, the innovations she introduced and the artistic knowledge passed down to subsequent generations.
The Masterclass, another key programme backed by Zenith Bank, will bring emerging creatives into conversations with established practitioners, using Kwali’s legacy to explore the relationship between traditional artistic knowledge and contemporary creativity.
Ten emerging artists will be selected from different creative fields, including painting, sculpture, photography, film, textiles, digital art, performance and ceramics.
Speaking on the partnership, Zenith Bank’s Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dame Dr Adaora Umeoji, said the bank recognised the importance of preserving cultural heritage while investing in talents shaping the future of the creative industry.
She said the continued partnership reflected the bank’s commitment to initiatives that promote African artistic excellence, strengthen cultural institutions and unlock the economic potential of Nigeria’s creative sector.
According to her, sustained investment in the industry would help African creativity gain greater recognition internationally.
ART X Lagos founder and director, Tokini Peterside-Schwebig, also expressed appreciation for Zenith Bank’s continued support, describing partnerships with corporate organisations as crucial to sustaining the fair’s vision and expanding opportunities for African creatives.
Beyond the two programmes, ART X Lagos 2026 will feature 15 exhibitors across its Main and Spotlight sections.
Other attractions include Ndidi Dike’s Residues of Past Encounters: 2024–2026, The ART X Library and Speakers’ Corner.
The four-day event will also feature ART X Cinema, ART X Live!, ART X Talks, Art Across Borders and the Schools’ Programme, bringing together different forms of contemporary artistic expression from Africa and its diaspora.
Zenith Bank, founded in 1990 by Jim Ovia, is one of Africa’s leading financial institutions, with operations across several African countries and international markets, including the United Kingdom, France, the United Arab Emirates and China.
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