Despite this year’s economic uncertainty spread worldwide, more African artists set new records in sales at fairs and auctions. Jadé Fadojutimi, Julie Mehretu, and Lynette Yiadom-Boakye were some of the artists who broke their own previous records at auctions this year. There was expansion in the African art scene as more galleries opened up new spaces in different locations across the world in addition to the emergence of new galleries. This expansion was not limited to galleries alone. Art fairs like 1-54 Contemporary expanded to add Hong Kong to the list of host countries. Frieze expanded into the United States art market scene by acquiring The Armory Show and EXPO CHICAGO, two of the longest-running art fairs in the US.
As we come to the end of the year, we must highlight some of the art news stories and trends that defined 2023.
Large and Site-Specific Installations
This year, there was a host of projects that explored public spaces, connection with materials, and artistic exploration of varied themes. Established artists like Ibrahim Mahama, Tschabalala Self, El Anatsui, and Temitayo Ogunbiyi made large-scale works for their ongoing projects which were exhibited in key art spaces.
Ghanaian artist Ibrahim Mahama’s exhibition, TRANSFER(S), was recently named one of the best public art of 2023. Mahama’s reclamation of discarded materials like industrial furnishings, disused airplanes, and jute sackcloth, to create monumental, site-specific works of art is known for deconstructing the architecture of Western colonial and economic systems. Mahama throws jute sacks that are large and stitched together by many hands over Western buildings as he makes space for a discourse on restoration to be had.
A towering site-specific installation by the Ghanaian sculptor El Anatsui was unveiled at Tate Modern in London in October. A Turbine Hall commission, Behind the Red Moon is Anatsui’s largest-ever indoor artwork. On view till April 14, 2023, the large-scale sculptural work makes use of the vast post-industrial and hangar-like entrance at the Tate’s Turbine Hall as a stage. Known for this process of recycling from the real world to represent consumption and waste, the work is a monumental sculptural installation made of thousands of metal bottle tops and fragments stitched into different compositions, large panels pieced together to form massive abstract fields of color, shape, and line. Anatsui’s latest installation, an artwork in three acts, is inviting viewers to delight in its myriad details.
This year, Museum Tinguely presented Nigerian artist Temitayo Ogunbiyi’s two-part project, You Will Follow The Rhein And Compose Play. The project is a playground sculpture that was installed in Solitude Park in May 2023. Alongside the main works for the exhibition, Ogunbiyi’s works from 2016 were also featured. In her work, Ogunbiyi extends an invitation to people of different ages to move and interact slowly while addressing issues such as global networking, cultural exchange, migration, and the treatment of the environment.
Tschabalala Self’s 10-foot-tall sculpture of a seated Black woman, Seated, at De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill-on-Sea in England caused quite a stir in the art industry this year. Self is known for her portrayal of Black Women in her works. With the sculpture, Seated, Tschabalala Self’s intention was to represent women who understand power and the importance of simple gestures that assert their right to take up space. Seated evoked the acts of resting, reflection, and leisure that were part of DLWP’s coastal context. It also evoked violent reactions as it was spray-painted by vandals.
Breakout Galleries in 2023
If you have been paying enough attention to the international art scene, you should not be surprised at the way African artists contributed to the art scene this year. At art fairs, solo shows, group exhibitions, and sales, African artists dominated. The galleries championing these artists were deliberate in the artists – emerging or established- that they put forward. Galleries like SMAC in Cape Town, kó, and Wunika Mukan in Lagos, rocked the local and international art scene as their artists did well in exhibitions and sales. Another gallery to look out for in 2024 is SMO Contemporary Art.
Art sales
New sales records were set at auctions, fairs, and exhibitions.
- Lynette Yiadom-Boakye’s 2015 painting ‘Six Birds in the Bush’ sold at Frieze London for £2.95 million ($3.6 million), estimated at $1.5 million. This made her the Black British woman artist with the highest auction record.
- At the Chrisities’ 21st Century Evening Sale, Jadé Fadojutimi’s ‘A Thistle Throb’ set a record sale of $1,683,500.
- Julie Mehretu sets a new auction record with her painting ‘Untitled’ at Sotheby’s Hong Kong with a $9.32 million sale for an African artist. The sale beat the artist’s previous auction record of $6.5 million which was set at an Artsy auction in 2021.
2024 Venice Biennale
The 60th edition of the Venice Biennale is set to run from 20 April to 24 November 2024. All year, the participating countries (and artists) have been announced.
In 2024, The Republic of Benin will debut its national pavilion at the Venice Biennale. The exhibition will be curated by Nigerian curator Azu Nwagbogu, known for his advocacy for contemporary African art and photography. The exhibition will include Ishola Akpo, Moufouli Bello, Romuald Hazoumè, and Chloé Quenum.
The United Republic of Tanzania will also debut a pavilion for the first time. Curated by Enrico Bittoto, the group exhibition will feature Happy Robert, Naby, Haji Chilonga, and Lute Mwakisopile will be representing the country.
Artists of African origins who will be representing their home countries are:
- Curated by Aindrea Emelife, the Nigerian Pavilion will be represented by Yinka Shonibare, Tunji Adeniyi-Jones, Ndidi Dike, Onyeka Igwe, Toyin Ojih Odutola, Abraham Oghobase, Precious Okoyomon, and Fatimah Tuggar;
- Kapwani Kiwanga, chosen by The National Gallery of Canada to represent Canada;
- Sponsored by Frieze, John Akomfrah for the British Pavilion;
- Alioune Diagne for Senegal;
- Wael Shawky will represent Egypt;
- Julien Creuzet for France;
- Renzo Martens and Cercle d’Art des Travailleurs de Plantation Congolaise (CATPC) will represent the Netherlands; and so on.
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.
