ART X Lagos: For its 11th edition, the fair puts potter Ladi Kwali and Gbari women back at the centre

The eleventh edition of ART X Lagos is taking place from November 5 to 8, 2026, at the Federal Palace on Victoria Island, Lagos. Founded in 2016 by Tokini Peterside-Schwebig, the fair has brought together artists and galleries from over seventy countries. Its theme this year: "A New Chapter, A New Decade".

A potter born in the village of Kwali, in 1925

The flagship exhibition, ART X ICON, is devoted to Ladi Dosei Kwali (1925-1984), who was born in the village of Kwali in northern Nigeria. She learned pottery from her aunt, mastering hand-modelling and coil-building—techniques at the heart of Gbari matrilineal traditions. She went on to become the most internationally recognized African potter of her era.

In 1951, British potter Michael Cardew (1901-1983) established a pottery training centre in Suleja, and later in Abuja. Ladi Kwali's admission there opened the door for other women from her community. Her work found its way into overseas museums, though, according to the exhibition text, "often in the shadow" of the British potter she worked with. In Nigeria, she is widely known as the face on the 20 naira banknote—recognized, the fair notes, but rarely examined in her own right.

"At the head of this lineage, not standing alone at its peak"

Titled "Ladi Kwali: Beyond the Vessel", the exhibition was curated by Jareh Das, an independent curator working between the UK and West Africa who is preparing a debut book on Black female ceramists. It brings together ceramics and archival materials on loan from the National Museum in Onikan, Lagos, and from private collectors: ranging from water pots built by hand without a wheel to wheel-thrown teapots, mugs, bowls, and dishes.

Crucially, the display does not isolate her. It also features potters Kande Ushafa and Asibi Ido, who worked alongside and after her, as well as traditional Gbari, Nupe, and Bida pottery. Ladi Kwali stands "at the head of this lineage rather than alone at its peak," the curatorial text sums up.

The fair brings together fifteen exhibitors across its Main and Spotlight sections, including Nike Art Gallery, kó, and Alexis Galleries from Nigeria, Afriart Gallery from Uganda, Gallery 1957 from Ghana, and TAFETA from the UK. Among the special projects, artist Ndidi Dike presents "Residues of Past Encounters, 2024-2026", an installation built around an overturned canoe echoing the Point of No Return in Badagry, a slave embarkation port. It is curated by N'Goné Fall.

The programme also features ART X Cinema, showing Joel 'Kachi Benson's "Mothers of Chibok" (2024) and an upcoming documentary on Ladi Kwali, as well as a Masterclass selecting ten emerging artists. Zenith Bank is a silver sponsor for this edition, while Afreximbank supports the pan-African Art Across Borders initiative.

The programme also includes ART X Cinema, featuring Joel 'Kachi Benson's "Mothers of Chibok" (2024), an announced documentary on Ladi Kwali, ART X Live!, and a Masterclass selecting ten emerging artists. Zenith Bank is a silver sponsor for this edition, while Afreximbank supports the pan-African Art Across Borders initiative.