The influence and contributions of artists from Africa and the diaspora remain an integral part of the evolving landscape that is the art market.
Every year, Art Basel and UBS analyze the happenings of the international art market in their Global Art Market Report. The report is usually pages of well-researched insights on the global art market from the previous year as it covers online sales, auctions, dealers, art fairs, and NFTs. It highlights some of the most important trends and developments that take place annually.
Guided by the 2022 global art market analysis from Art Basel and UBS, here is a breakdown of some of this year’s major happenings in the art market in relation to African artists.
Notable Art Fairs
The art industry, both local and international, has seen a successful launch of art fairs like 1-54, Frieze LA, Hamptons Fine Art Fair, Art Basel, and New York Art Fair among others on the art market calendar.
At this year’s 1-54 New York art fair, Nigerian galleries stood out with the artists on their roster. Works from established artists like Aboudia, Mariam Abouzid Souali, Yo-Yo Gonthier, Elladj Lincy Deloumeaux, Rachel Marsil, Abdulrazaq Awofeso, Abdoulaye Konaté, Barthélémy Toguo, Soly Cissé, and Siriki Ky, among others were presented at the fair. The New York fair also witnessed the introduction of notable African galleries such as DADA Gallery, kó Gallery, LouiSimone Guirandou Gallery, and Wunika Mukan Gallery with emerging artists like Mobolaji Ogunrosoye, Fidelis Joseph, Edozie Anedu, and Adebayo Bolaji, who were reported to have impressed collectors.
Courtesy of Artnews.
After a three-year break due to the pandemic, the Moroccan edition of 1-54 was back with presentations from Abdulrazaq Awofeso, Thandiwe Muriu, Mahi Binebine, Abdoulaye Konaté, Kehinde Wiley, Reggie Khumalo, Theresah Ankomah, Frederick Botchway, Barthelemy Toguo, and Omar Ba, among others.
Courtesy of MAÂT Gallery.
With two editions per year in Los Angeles and Felix LA, some of the best booths at Frieze 2023 showed out with presentations of works from Ghada Amer, El Anatsui, Grada Kilomba, Kapwani Kiwanga, and Yinka Shonibare CBE, among others.
The 2023 Hamptons Fine Art Fair showcased 10,000 artworks by 130 national and international galleries. The fourth edition of the art fair was held at the Southampton Fairgrounds in July. Nike Art Gallery presented works from Nike Okundaye, Tola Wewe, Bolaji Ogunwo, Nelson Okoh, Akeem Adeleke, and Sam Ebohon.
Other fairs that represented African art include Art Basel, and the New York Fair 2023, which showed works from five remarkable African artists: Oluwole Omofemi, Matthew Eguavoen, Médéric Turay, and Moses Zibor, among others.
Courtesy of Stephen Friedman Gallery.
Art Sales
At Art Basel, Senga Nengudi’s heat-sealed vinyl pieces, Water Composition (green) and Water Composition (multi-colour) (both 1970) were sold for $90,000 and $40,000, respectively, by Thomas Erben Gallery. David Kordansky Gallery reported strong sales from names on its roster including Odili Donald Odita. Stephen Friedman Gallery sold Leilah Babirye’s sculpture for $125,000; Blum & Poe made a five-figure sum for Umar Rashid; Galleria Continua also made a six-figure sum for Adel Abdessemed; a five-figure sum for Anthony Akinbola’s work by Sean Kelly Gallery; Wentrup reported a five-figure sale for recent works by Phoebe Boswell. Templon made a notable five-figure sale by Alioune Diagne and sold two 2023 works by Omar Ba for €200,000 to private collections. Pélagie Gbaguidi (Zeno X Gallery), Yinka Shonibare (James Cohan Gallery), and Cassi Namoda (303 Gallery) are artists that made good sales at the fair.
Kehinde Wiley has had an impressive year of setting records at art fairs and exhibitions. He led Templon’s sales at Art Basel with ‘Ariadne Asleep on the Island of Naxos (2022), which sold for $330,000, and he led the sales at 1-54 Marrakech with €750,000.
Key Trends and Insights
- Amplifying African narratives in solo and group shows in galleries and museums
The growing interest in African art is why there are a number of galleries and museums exhibiting African artists on the continent and internationally. This has improved the art market for African artists significantly.
Courtesy of Soto Gallery
- High demand for collaboration and partnerships
More African artists participated in major art fairs like the 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair and the Art Basel Art Fair as both international and local collectors are looking to add to their collections. It provided a platform for African artists and galleries to showcase their work and engage with a wider audience.
The art world registered a good number of artists’ collaborations with different brands across the fashion and music industry. Yinka Ilori is one of the artists who has collaborated the most with brands in 2023. This year alone, British-Nigerian artist Yinka Ilori has created: a limited-edition Courvoisier VSOP bottle design with Maison Courvoisier; colour-rich tiles with Domus; and a second tote bag with Marks & Spencer.
Victor Ehikhamenor’s collaboration with Johnny Walker was to show the intersection of art, science, and sustainability as they made limited editions of ‘Keep Walking Lagos’ ceramic bottles.
Image courtesy of Edozie Anedu.
In the music industry, Nigerian artist, Oluwatosin Ajibade, also known as Mr Eazi commissioned thirteen artists to make works corresponding to singles on his new record. Some of them include Lagos-based artist, Edozie Anedu, Contonou-based artist Dominique Zinkpe, and the Texas-based Cameroonian artist Sesse Elangwe.
Also this year, Ayanfe Olarinde was commissioned to create the cover image for Nigerian’s rising superstar, Asake, for his latest album titled ‘Work of Art,’ a tribute to Jean Michel Basquiat.
Iyanuoluwa Adenle is a Nigerian art writer, essayist, and poet based in Lagos. She is currently the head writer at Omenai. Adenle has contributed to a number of art publications, including Tender Photo, Art News Africa, Pavillon 54, and Omenai.
