Vasari Art Codex

trending_up market schedule Nov 25, 2025 visibility 3 link 19 artists, 4 galleries

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Abu Dhabi Art (ADA) held its final edition at Manarat Al Saadiyat before transitioning into a Frieze franchise in November 2025. The fair featured 53 new galleries, a Focus sector highlighting art scenes from Nigeria, Turkey, and South Asia, and a new Emerge section offering discounted booth prices for works under $3,000 to attract emerging collectors. The shift comes as Abu Dhabi’s cultural landscape moves beyond its iconic Saadiyat Island museums—Louvre Abu Dhabi, Zayed National Museum, and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi—toward more grassroots ventures like the MiZa warehouse district, which hosts experimental spaces such as MamarLab and Iris Projects. Mega-gallery Pace returned after a 14-year absence, citing renewed energy in the Gulf market.

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museum exhibitions schedule Oct 3, 2025 visibility 2 link 12 artists, 6 galleries

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Luke Agada, a Nigerian painter who completed his MFA at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2023, chose to remain in Chicago rather than move to New York or Los Angeles, citing the city's balance of opportunities. He spoke during his solo exhibition "To Translate Is to Move Across" at Monique Meloche Gallery, part of the third edition of Chicago Exhibition Weekend (CXW), which expanded to include over 70 galleries, talks, studio visits, and collaborations with the Chicago Architecture Biennial. The event, founded by Abby Pucker of the consultancy firm Gertie, aims to fill a gap in Chicago's art scene left by the end of Gallery Weekend Chicago in 2019.

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article local schedule Oct 3, 2025 visibility 2 link 12 artists, 6 galleries

chicago gallery weekend dealers artists collaborate 1234754476

Luke Agada, a Nigerian painter who completed his MFA at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2023, chose to remain in Chicago rather than move to New York or Los Angeles, citing the city's balance of opportunities. He opened his solo exhibition "To Translate Is to Move Across" at Monique Meloche Gallery during the third edition of Chicago Exhibition Weekend (CXW), a four-day event involving over 70 galleries, talks, studio visits, and a tennis mixer. CXW was founded by Abby Pucker of the consultancy firm Gertie and co-organized with Expo Chicago, expanding this year to include the Chicago Architecture Biennial and a curated exhibition of conceptual art.

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museum exhibitions schedule Apr 7, 2026 visibility 12 link 10 artists, 17 galleries

A renewed focus on rigour and connection at Expo Chicago

The 2026 edition of Expo Chicago marks a strategic shift under the leadership of new director Kate Sierzputowski, featuring a leaner roster of 130 galleries at Navy Pier. The fair has introduced a more spacious layout and a new curatorial role, filled by Essence Harden, to deepen institutional ties and scholarly rigor. Notable participants include local mainstays like Monique Meloche Gallery and Gray, alongside international exhibitors from South Korea, South Africa, and Nigeria, as well as high-profile New York newcomers like Karma.

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trending_up market schedule Nov 4, 2025 visibility 3 link 5 artists, 4 galleries

dyala nusseibeh director of abu dhabi art on the gulf market a hugely important chapter ahead of us 1234759206

Abu Dhabi Art Fair returns for its 17th edition from November 19–23 on Saadiyat Island, featuring 140 galleries from 35 countries—up from 104 last year and 40 in 2009. Under director Dyala Nusseibeh, the fair introduces new thematic sectors including 'The Collectors Salon' for historical objects, an expanded 'Emerge' section for works under $3,000, and a Global Focus highlighting modern masters from Nigeria and Türkiye. The growth reflects Abu Dhabi's broader cultural strategy of ambitious development, with museums long in the works finally opening and attracting global attention.

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person people schedule Mar 23, 2026 visibility 5 link 5 artists, 3 galleries

From Bottle Caps and Seals Has Come Colorful, Cascading Art

Renowned Ghanaian artist El Anatsui is currently experiencing a significant professional moment with concurrent exhibitions at White Cube in Hong Kong and Seoul, timed to coincide with Art Basel Hong Kong. The artist, known for his monumental sculptures crafted from discarded liquor-bottle caps and copper wire, recently saw his 2023 work "G6" sell for $995,000 at Sotheby’s London to benefit the Royal Academy of Arts. Now living back in Ghana after decades teaching in Nigeria, Anatsui continues to explore the fluidity of his medium, which mimics the organic processes of growth and decay.

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museum exhibitions schedule Oct 8, 2025 visibility 3 link 12 artists, 8 galleries

Eight Exhibitions Not to Miss During Frieze Week London

Frieze Week London returns from October 15–19 at Regent’s Park, with a rich lineup of off-site exhibitions across the city. Highlights include "Nigerian Modernism" at Tate Modern (October 8, 2025–May 10, 2026), the first UK survey of mid-century Nigerian modern art featuring over 200 works by 50 artists; "Emily Kam Kngwarray" at Tate Modern (through January 11, 2026), Europe’s first major solo show of the Aboriginal artist; "Kerry James Marshall: The Histories" at the Royal Academy of Arts (through January 18, 2026), his largest US exhibition outside the U.S.; and "House of Music" at Serpentine South Gallery (October 10, 2025–February 8, 2026), a multisensory presentation of Peter Doig’s work.

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museum exhibitions schedule Oct 8, 2025 visibility 2 link 13 artists, 8 galleries

Eight Exhibitions Not to Miss During Frieze Week London

Frieze Week London returns from October 15-19 at Regent's Park, but the city's galleries and museums are mounting a robust slate of concurrent exhibitions. Highlights include "Nigerian Modernism" at Tate Modern (October 8, 2025–May 10, 2026), the first UK survey of mid-century Nigerian modern art featuring over 200 works by 50 artists; "Emily Kam Kngwarray" at Tate Modern, Europe's first major solo show for the Aboriginal artist; "Kerry James Marshall: The Histories" at the Royal Academy of Arts, the artist's largest US exhibition outside the U.S.; and "House of Music" at Serpentine South Gallery, a multisensory presentation of Peter Doig's work. The article also previews several other shows across London.

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museum exhibitions schedule Oct 8, 2025 visibility 2 link 12 artists, 9 galleries

Eight Exhibitions Not to Miss During Frieze Week London

Frieze Week London returns from October 15–19 at Regent’s Park, with a rich lineup of off-site exhibitions across the city. Highlights include "Nigerian Modernism" at Tate Modern, the first UK survey of mid-century Nigerian modern art featuring over 200 works by 50 artists; Europe’s first major solo show of Aboriginal artist Emily Kam Kngwarray, also at Tate Modern; Kerry James Marshall’s largest US-external exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts; and a multisensory presentation of Peter Doig’s work at Serpentine South Gallery. The article previews eight must-see shows spanning major museums and commercial galleries.

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person people schedule Dec 12, 2025 visibility 1 link 7 artists

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Maria Balshaw, the director of Tate, will step down in the new year after nine years at the helm, the museum announced Friday. Appointed in 2017, Balshaw was the first woman to lead the institutional network, which includes Tate Modern and Tate Britain. Her tenure was marked by a substantial diversification of Tate’s collection and programming to spotlight new art forms, indigenous artists, and artists from the Global South. She also oversaw the launch of a landmark £150 million endowment fund for Tate Modern to address financial woes. Memorable exhibitions included surveys of pre-internet digital artists, modern art in Nigeria, and retrospectives for Leigh Bowery, Isaac Julien, Yoko Ono, and Emily Kam Kngwarray.

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museum exhibitions schedule Nov 17, 2025 visibility 1 link 7 artists, 3 galleries

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Abu Dhabi Art returns in 2025 with 142 galleries from 34 countries, introducing two new Focus sectors: Focus: Nigeria Spotlight and Focus: Modern Türkiye. The Nigeria section, curated by Tola Akerele, results from a collaboration between Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy and the Department of Culture and Tourism, Abu Dhabi, featuring seven galleries such as kò, SOTO Gallery, and the 1897 Gallery. Focus: Modern Türkiye, curated by Doris Benhalegua Karako, showcases rare works by modern masters like Fahrelnissa Zeid, Burhan Doğançay, and Gülsün Karamustafa, presented by Istanbul-based galleries including DG Art Gallery and Projects and BüroSarıgedik.

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museum exhibitions schedule Nov 17, 2025 visibility 2 link 7 artists, 3 galleries

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Abu Dhabi Art returns in 2025 with 142 galleries from 34 countries, introducing two new Focus sectors: Focus: Nigeria Spotlight and Focus: Modern Türkiye. The Nigeria section, curated by Tola Akerele, features seven galleries including kò, SOTO Gallery, and O’DA Gallery, showcasing artists like Samuel Nnorom, Bara Sketchbook, and Rufus Ogundele. Focus: Modern Türkiye, curated by Doris Benhalegua Karako, presents modern masters such as Fahrelnissa Zeid, Burhan Doğançay, and Gülsün Karamustafa through Istanbul-based galleries including DG Art Gallery and Projects, Art on Istanbul Gallery, and BüroSarıgedik.

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museum exhibitions schedule Oct 15, 2025 visibility 2 link 6 artists, 1 gallery

Freedom of expression: Tate exhibition offers an overdue showcase of Nigeria’s Modernist artists

Tate Modern’s exhibition "Nigerian Modernism" showcases over 300 works by 59 Nigerian modernist artists, curated by Osei Bonsu and Bilal Akkouche. The show follows the 2018 record sale of Ben Enwonwu’s portrait "Tutu" for £1.2 million at Bonhams, which highlighted the neglect of modern African artists in global art history. The exhibition includes pioneering figures like Aina Onabolu, the first African student at an English art school, and Uche Okeke of the Zaria Art Society, whose work blended Islamic aesthetics, uli mural traditions, and European techniques.

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museum exhibitions schedule Oct 15, 2025 visibility 1 link 5 artists, 1 gallery

Freedom of expression: Tate exhibition offers an overdue showcase of Nigeria’s Modernist artists

Tate Modern's exhibition "Nigerian Modernism" showcases over 300 works by 59 Nigerian modernist artists, curated by Osei Bonsu and Bilal Akkouche. The show follows the 2018 record sale of Ben Enwonwu's portrait "Tutu" at Bonham's for £1.2 million, which highlighted the neglect of modern African artists in art history. It features pioneers like Aina Onabolu, the first African student at an English art school, and Uche Okeke of the Zaria Art Society, whose work blends Western techniques with Nigerian traditions, Islamic aesthetics, and uli mural painting.

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museum exhibitions schedule Oct 8, 2025 visibility 3 link 7 artists, 2 galleries

Five must-see UK exhibitions this Black History Month

Five must-see UK exhibitions for Black History Month 2025 are highlighted, including 'Nigerian Modernism' at Tate Modern (8 Oct 2025–10 May 2026), which explores the development of Modern art in Nigeria through over 250 works by artists like Ben Enwonwu and El Anatsui; 'Stan Douglas: Birth of a Nation and The Enemy of All Mankind' at Victoria Miro (until 1 Nov 2025), a multi-channel video installation confronting racial perception; and 'Jennie Baptiste: Rhythm & Roots' at Somerset House (17 Oct 2025–4 Jan 2026), the photographer's first UK solo exhibition capturing Black diaspora life. Other shows include works addressing the Caribbean Windrush generation in Cambridge.

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museum exhibitions schedule Oct 8, 2025 visibility 2 link 8 artists, 3 galleries

Five must-see UK exhibitions this Black History Month

This article highlights five must-see UK exhibitions during Black History Month 2025, centered on the theme 'Standing Firm in Power and Pride.' Key shows include 'Nigerian Modernism' at Tate Modern, featuring over 250 works by artists like Ben Enwonwu and El Anatsui; Stan Douglas's video installation 'Birth of a Nation and The Enemy of All Mankind' at Victoria Miro; and Jennie Baptiste's first UK solo exhibition 'Rhythm & Roots' at Somerset House, among others. These exhibitions explore Nigerian modernist art, racial perception, and Black diaspora culture.

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museum exhibitions schedule Nov 5, 2025 visibility 2 link 14 artists, 5 galleries

As Art X Lagos opens, Nigeria's next generation of artists emerges

Art X Lagos, the art fair founded by Tokini Peterside-Schwebig in 2016, opens for its tenth edition from November 6-9, anchoring Lagos Art Week. The fair features a group show at Kó Art Space spotlighting artists inspired by the Oshogbo School, a 1960s Nigerian movement, and Tiwani Contemporary presents sculptural works by Lagos-based designer Nifemi Marcus-Bello, his first exhibition in Nigeria. The Guest Artists Space (GAS) Foundation, established by British-Nigerian artist Yinka Shonibare, adds talks, workshops, and cultural exchange programs, contributing to a vibrant, sprawling art week across the city.

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article culture schedule Oct 10, 2025 visibility 2 link 4 artists, 1 gallery

Nigerian Modernism, Tehran’s art scene after the war, Wayne Thiebaud’s ‘Cake’—podcast

This podcast episode from The Art Newspaper covers three distinct art stories. First, Tate Modern's new exhibition 'Nigerian Modernism' explores modern art beyond Western canons, featuring co-curator Osei Bonsu and artist Jimoh Buraimoh. Second, correspondent Sarvy Geranpayeh reports on Tehran's thriving art scene before and after the 12-day Israel-Iran war in June 2025. Third, the episode highlights 'Cakes' (1963) by Wayne Thiebaud, now on view at the Courtauld Gallery in London for the artist's first UK museum exhibition, with insights from co-curator Barnaby Wright.

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trending_up market schedule Oct 23, 2025 visibility 2 link 17 artists, 1 gallery

Modern & Contemporary African and Middle Eastern Art at Olympia Auctions

Olympia Auctions will hold a sale of Modern & Contemporary African and Middle Eastern Art on 29 October 2025, featuring 66 lots curated by specialists Janet Rady and Elikem Logan. Highlights include works by Ben Enwonwu, Oluwole Omofemi, Johnson Ocheja, Jacob Hendrik Pierneef, and South African women weavers from the Rorke’s Drift Art and Craft Centre, with estimates ranging from £1,000 to £25,000.

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person people schedule Feb 26, 2026 visibility 4 link 1 artist, 2 galleries

Proud Moment! Ken Nwadiogbu Wins the 2026 Young Generation Art Award in Berlin

Nigerian-born, London-based artist Ken Nwadiogbu has been named the winner of the 2026 Young Generation Art Award. Selected from a pool of nearly 400 applicants, Nwadiogbu received the honor at a ceremony in Berlin hosted by Degussa in partnership with Monopol magazine. The prestigious prize includes a €10,000 cash award, a solo exhibition at Frieze London 2026, and a year-long international traveling exhibition.

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museum exhibitions schedule Dec 13, 2025 visibility 1 link 4 artists

21 Savage and Slawn Took Over Atlanta's High Museum of Art

Rapper 21 Savage and British-Nigerian artist Olaolu Slawn (known as Slawn) took over Atlanta's High Museum of Art to celebrate the release of Savage's new album, *What Happened to the Streets?*. The exhibition featured 15 original artworks co-created by the duo, including the album's cover art inspired by Kerry James Marshall's 1980 painting “A Portrait of the Artist as a Shadow of His Former Self,” eight portraits of collaborators (Drake, Latto, G Herbo, Lil Baby, Jawan Harris, GloRilla, Metro Boomin, Young Nudy), and four additional paintings from the album's 4-CD cover art series. The event follows their Art Basel rollout, which included a 20-foot inflatable sculpture roaming Miami.

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gavel restitution schedule Mar 20, 2026 source 2 sources visibility 8 link 2 galleries

Zurich's Museum Rietberg transfers 11 Benin Bronzes to Nigerian government

The Museum Rietberg in Zurich is transferring ownership of 11 Benin Bronzes to the Republic of Nigeria. The transfer includes a significant commemorative bronze head from around 1850 and an 18th-century ivory tusk, both looted during the British raid on Benin City in 1897, which will be physically returned to Nigeria this summer.

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rate_review review schedule Apr 4, 2026 visibility 7 link 5 artists, 1 gallery

Post-Mortemism: An Autopsy of “Nigerian Modernism: Art and Independence” at Tate Modern.

A critical essay by Ayọ̀ Akínwándé performs a forensic 'autopsy' of the Tate Modern exhibition 'Nigerian Modernism: Art and Independence.' The review dissects the show's structure, arguing it fails in its curatorial framework by isolating Nigerian artists within a regional category, using ethnographic display methods, relying on incomplete research, and excluding key artists and historical context.

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museum exhibitions schedule Oct 16, 2025 visibility 1 link 5 artists, 2 galleries

Solidarity and shared optimism take centre stage at 1-54 fair in London

The 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair in London, held at Somerset House until 19 October, showcases a wide range of African and diaspora artists amid a surge of international attention on Nigeria's art scene. Galleries such as The 1897, O'DA Gallery, Circle Art Gallery, Everyday Lusaka Gallery, and Affinity Art Gallery present works by artists including Roisin Jones, Afeez Onakoya, Paul Majek, Simon Richard Ojeaga, Tiemar Tegene, Alick Phiri, and Samuel Nnorom. The fair highlights both Nigeria's contemporary art boom—bolstered by Tate Modern's Nigerian Modernism exhibition and the opening of the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) in Benin City—and the need to elevate artists from less-represented regions like East Africa and Zambia.

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museum exhibitions schedule Oct 16, 2025 visibility 2 link 5 artists, 2 galleries

Solidarity and shared optimism take centre stage at 1-54 fair in London

The 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair in London, held at Somerset House until 19 October, showcases a wide range of African and diaspora artists. Galleries from Nigeria, Kenya, Zambia, and beyond present works that highlight both historical and contemporary practices, with notable sales and institutional interest already reported. The fair coincides with Tate Modern's Nigerian Modernism exhibition and the opening of the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) in Benin City, creating a moment of heightened global attention on African art.

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article policy schedule Dec 19, 2025 visibility 3 link 2 artists

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The British Museum has launched a new long-term lending program, transferring some 80 Greek and Egyptian antiquities to the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS) in Mumbai, India, for a three-year exhibition. Director Nicholas Cullinan presented the initiative as a collaborative alternative to the contentious debate over repatriation, aiming to share artifacts with former British colonies without permanently deaccessioning them. The loans are part of a 15-year partnership between the two museums, and Cullinan has signaled plans to negotiate similar arrangements with China, Nigeria, and Ghana.

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museum exhibitions schedule Mar 21, 2026 visibility 8 link 1 artist

At Hong Kong Art Basel, an Exhibition of Works by El Anatsui

El Anatsui, the celebrated Ghanaian artist, is presenting a major exhibition of new works at Art Basel in Hong Kong. The presentation, titled "The Way of the Earth," features large-scale metallic tapestries and sculptures created from found materials like bottle caps and copper wire, reflecting his signature style.

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person people schedule Apr 7, 2026 visibility 12 link 3 artists, 1 gallery

A Conversation with Milwaukee Art Museum’s New Director

Kim Sajet has been appointed as the new director of the Milwaukee Art Museum, bringing an international perspective shaped by her Nigerian birth, Australian upbringing, and Dutch citizenship. In an introductory interview, Sajet discusses her extensive background in museum leadership—having previously directed institutions in Melbourne—and how her personal history, including her relationship with her disabled brother, has influenced her path toward art and history.

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person people schedule Apr 7, 2026 visibility 7 link 3 artists, 1 gallery

A Conversation with Milwaukee Art Museum’s New Director

Kim Sajet has been appointed as the new director of the Milwaukee Art Museum, bringing an international perspective shaped by her birth in Nigeria, upbringing in Australia, and Dutch citizenship. In an introductory interview, Sajet discusses her extensive leadership background—having previously run two museums in Australia—and how her personal history, including her relationship with her disabled brother, influenced her path toward art history and museum studies.

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museum exhibitions schedule Oct 14, 2025 visibility 1 link 3 artists, 2 galleries

At Frieze London, a new section explores the flow of cultural influence between Africa and Brazil

Frieze London 2025 introduces a new curated section called Echoes in the Present, organized by Nigerian art historian Jareh Das. The section features eight galleries and ten artists, exploring the bidirectional cultural flow between Africa and Brazil, rooted in the history of the transatlantic slave trade. Artists like Bunmi Agusto present works that delve into personal and collective histories, such as Agusto's paintings about her great-great grandfather, a Nigerian returnee from slavery in Brazil.

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