Exploring human anatomy through sustainable materials: Ghizlane Sahli’s Histoires De Tripes 027 at ART X Lagos 2026 Art Across Borders. Image: Artist/Stella Gallery
Uncover the core vision behind ART X Lagos 2026 Art Across Borders, celebrating cross-border collaboration and collective creativity in Africa.
ARTCENTRON ART NEWS DESK
As ART X Lagos enters an exciting new decade, the fair continues to challenge conventional art-market metrics by asking a foundational question: What does it truly mean for African artists to create “value” collectively? At the heart of this inquiry is ART X Lagos 2026 Art Across Borders, a flagship exhibition presented in partnership with Afreximbank (African Export-Import Bank) and curated by visual artist and sociologist Fikayo Adebajo.
Moving far beyond traditional studio boundaries, the showcase brings together visionary artists from across the African continent who are actively building resilient ecosystems of knowledge, skill, livelihood, and community. For broader historical context on how the fair has grown into a continental anchor, see ART X Lagos: History, Artists, Galleries, and Global Impact on Artcentron.
Inside the Studios: The Practice and Material Poetics of the Featured Artists
The power of ART X Lagos 2026 Art Across Borders lies in how its featured practitioners push past the physical walls of the traditional studio, treating their works as living ecosystems that engage with history, community labor, and material regeneration.
Georgina Maxim and the Archival Power of Textiles
Zimbabwean artist Georgina Maxim works extensively with second-hand and discarded clothing, elevating the domestic, intimate acts of sewing, mending, and stitching into a rigorous artistic language. By deconstructing and painstakingly reassembling garments worn by others, she treats fabrics as archival repositories of personal and collective memory. Through her involvement with VintageUnhu—an artist-run collective and cultural space in Harare—Maxim actively fosters peer mentorship, collaborative studio environments, and alternative knowledge-sharing structures across Zimbabwe, aligning with the broader network of artist-run collectives across Africa.
Ghizlane Sahli: Sustainable Sculptures and Community Craft
In Morocco, Ghizlane Sahli draws heavily on her background in architecture to shape her three-dimensional embroidery and large-scale sculptural installations. She transforms humble, discarded materials like plastic bottle caps and synthetic waste into intricate, cellular forms. These sculptures evoke coral reefs, organic tissue, and biological networks. Her labor-intensive process frequently engages local women’s cooperatives in Morocco. Through this collaboration, she provides sustainable livelihoods and upskilling. Ultimately, she turns waste management into a collaborative communal craft through contemporary visual culture and sustainable practices.
Kaloki Nyamai and Intergenerational Dialogue in Kenya
Drawing inspiration from his Kamba heritage and family storytelling, Kenyan artist Kaloki Nyamai presents heavily textured, multi-layered canvases that reject traditional framing. He incorporates organic elements like cow dung and earth alongside historical photography, stitching fragmented surfaces together using string salvaged from burned tires. Operating from his studio and residency space in Kenya, Nyamai treats his practice as a communal hub—transforming his compound into an open-door residency that hosts visiting artists and facilitates intergenerational dialogue.
Kiluanji Kia Henda: Speculative Futures and Conceptual Geographies
Based in Luanda, Angolan conceptual polymath Kiluanji Kia Henda uses dark humor, irony, and deep historical research to interrogate post-colonial politics, modernist architecture, and urban transformation in Africa through photography, performance, and large-scale spatial installations. His projects frequently disrupt official narratives, substituting them with alternative mythologies and speculative futures. Henda’s collaborative methodology bridges local grassroots cultural spaces with international institutions, creating fluid networks that allow African conceptual artists to share resources, critical discourse, and exhibition platforms globally.
Victor Ehikhamenor: Ancestral Shrine Iconography and Civic Advocacy
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Victor Ehikhamenor, Wealth Of Nation Ogoni 9. Installation view. Image courtesy of the artist
” data-large-file=”https://i0.wp.com/artcentron.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Victor-Ehikhamenor-Wealth-Of-Nation-Ogoni-9-Venice-Biennale-770-x-577.jpg?fit=770%2C577&ssl=1″ src=”https://i0.wp.com/artcentron.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Victor-Ehikhamenor-Wealth-Of-Nation-Ogoni-9-Venice-Biennale-770-x-577.jpg?resize=770%2C577&ssl=1″ alt=”Victor Ehikhamenor’s mixed-media work Wealth Of Nation Ogoni 9, featured in ART X Lagos 2026 Art Across Borders.” class=”wp-image-53412″ srcset=”https://i0.wp.com/artcentron.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Victor-Ehikhamenor-Wealth-Of-Nation-Ogoni-9-Venice-Biennale-770-x-577.jpg?w=770&ssl=1 770w, https://i0.wp.com/artcentron.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Victor-Ehikhamenor-Wealth-Of-Nation-Ogoni-9-Venice-Biennale-770-x-577.jpg?resize=600%2C450&ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/artcentron.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Victor-Ehikhamenor-Wealth-Of-Nation-Ogoni-9-Venice-Biennale-770-x-577.jpg?resize=160%2C120&ssl=1 160w” sizes=”(max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px”>
Finally, Nigerian artist Victor Ehikhamenor. The artist bridges ancient heritage with contemporary socio-political commentary. He draws heavily from traditional Esan visual symbols, graphic body art, and ancestral shrine iconography. His intricate patterns and perforated compositions tackle the historical looting of African artifacts. At the same time, they celebrate the resilience of indigenous spiritual systems. Beyond his studio, Ehikhamenor is deeply embedded in the Nigerian literary and visual arts community. He uses art and public advocacy to fight socio-political violence and champion collective civic responsibility. Vic, as he fondly called, has a long history with ART X Lagos. He was one of the first artists to exhibit at the art fair. He returns after ten years as the first Nigerian to exhibit in Art Across Borders.
Shifting Focus: Beyond the Commercial Market
As contemporary African art exhibitions command unprecedented global attention, ART X Lagos 2026 Art Across Borders pivots the spotlight away from purely transactional market value toward communal sustainability.
Curator Fikayo Adebajo’s framework challenges audiences to reconsider who gets to determine artistic value. By examining how these practitioners foster local creative pipelines, mentor peers, and preserve cultural knowledge, the exhibition proves that the true wealth of the African art ecosystem lies in its interconnected communities. Readers can explore official program schedules and ticket details directly on the ART X Lagos or review institutional backing disclosures via the Afreximbank Portal. International exchanges and institutional bridges are further enriched by cross-border residencies like the Cité internationale des arts.
Conversation Around African Contemporary Art
As ART X Lagos embarks on its new decade, exhibitions like Art Across Borders ensure that the conversation around African contemporary art continues. More importantly, it ensures the discourse remains deeply rooted in community empowerment, cross-border collaboration, and sustainable futures. By honoring the material poetics and collaborative ecosystems that sustain creators, the fair continues to redefine how the world experiences African creativity.
ART X Lagos 2026 Art Across Borders Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What is ART X Lagos 2026?
ART X Lagos 2026 is West Africa’s premier international art fair, returning to the Federal Palace in Victoria Island, Lagos. It continues to celebrate contemporary art, culture, and creative dialogue from Africa and its diaspora.
2. What is the theme of the “Art Across Borders” exhibition?
Presented in partnership with Afreximbank, ART X Lagos 2026 Art Across Borders explores how African artists collectively create value. Additionally, it highlights strategies for sustaining local ecosystems and building knowledge networks beyond the traditional studio and commercial market.
3. Who curated Art Across Borders for the 2026 edition?
The exhibition is curated by visual artist and sociologist Fikayo Adebajo.
4. Which artists are featured in the 2026 showcase?
The exhibition features Georgina Maxim (Zimbabwe / VintageUnhu Studio Space), Ghizlane Sahli (Morocco), and Kaloki Nyamai (Kenya). Others are Kiluanji Kia Henda (Angola) and Victor Ehikhamenor (Nigeria).