From London to Lagos, New York to the French Riviera, African and diasporic artists are commanding some of the most talked-about gallery walls this summer. Here's where to go, who to see, and what to expect before the doors close.

On 14 June 2026, the Obama Presidential Center unveiled "The Obamas: Springing Forth" — a large-scale work by Njideka Akunyili Crosby, rendered in acrylic, coloured pencils, charcoal, and transfers on paper, measuring 108 by 120 inches. It now hangs in the Hope and Change Lobby of the museum's main building, free and open to the public, before the Centre's official grand opening on Juneteenth. It is the first official portrait of the former President and First Lady together.

London Gallery Weekend returns for its sixth edition this 5–7 June, bringing together over 120 galleries across the capital for three days of exhibitions, talks, and events — all free and open to the public. For its Co-Directors Jeremy Epstein and Sarah Rustin, the 2026 edition is "a convening moment that is both local and global in its scope and audience, reflecting the year-on-year revitalisation and evolution of the capital's contemporary art scene."

In April 2025, Sotheby's quietly absorbed its dedicated Modern & Contemporary African Art department into the broader contemporary sales operation. A year on, we need to talk about what that decision actually means — and stop accepting the spin.