Tschabalala Self’s Lady In Blue has arrived at London’s Trafalgar Square, transforming the iconic Fourth Plinth with a monumental portrait of the contemporary woman.

History was made this year at FNB Art Joburg. Sculptor Kelebogile Marope has been announced as the winner of the 2026 FNB Art Prize — becoming the first artist from Botswana to ever take home the award since its inception nineteen editions ago.

Appointment of Elvira Dyangani Ose as the artistic director of Zeitz Musuem of Contemporary Art, Cape Town. The choice that signals both continuity and a widening of horizons.

The Goethe-Institut has operated for more than 75 years without ever commissioning a building of its own. It chose Dakar, and a Burkinabè architect, to break that streak.

Tiwani Contemporary is closing its London doors. The gallery, which has operated out of 24 Cork Street in Mayfair since 2023 will shut its London space after already pausing operations at its Lagos outpost on Victoria Island.

Polish philanthropist and art advocate Omenaa Mensah, of Ghanaian heritage, has been invited to join the prestigious Africa Acquisitions Committee (AAC) at Tate, one of the world’s most influential cultural institutions. Her appointment not only marks a milestone as the first Polish member of the Committee but also underscores Warsaw’s growing significance on the global art world.

This November, Lagos will host a milestone edition of ART X Lagos — the fair turns ten. Since its founding in 2016 by Tokini Peterside‑Schwebig, ART X Lagos has grown into West Africa’s premier art-fair and a benchmark for contemporary African art.

The UK government has acquired Journaliste (2023), a powerful mixed-media animation by British-Congolese artist Djofray Makumbu, for the nation’s public art collection, marking a major milestone in the artist’s rising career.

In the latest twist in the ever-blurring lines between internet virality and art world credibility, American artist KAWS has publicly denied any collaboration with London-based Nigerian artist and designer Slawn, following a now-viral post shared by Slawn suggesting a joint project between the two.

The Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) will officially open its new museum campus in Benin City, Nigeria, to the public on Tuesday, 11 November 2025. The opening marks a major milestone in the institution’s vision to build world-class infrastructure for the research, preservation, and presentation of West African art and heritage.

The upcoming Aichi Triennale 2025, set from September 13 to November 30 in Japan, promises a reformative global dialogue on contemporary art. Under the evocative theme A Time Between Ashes and Roses—a nod to Adonis’s 1970 poem—the festival goes beyond mere traditional national narratives, inviting diverse perspectives that reimagine our connection to time, nature, and society. Among the 60 selected artists, a powerful contingent from Africa brings distinct voices and innovative practices to the international stage. Here’s a closer look at five remarkable African artists featured in this year's Triennale.

Art Basel has unveiled the lineup for its 2025 edition in Basel, Switzerland, set to take place from June 19–22, with preview days on June 17–18. The fair, widely regarded as a bellwether for the global art market, will host 291 galleries, including major blue-chip establishments and an expanded focus on ultra-contemporary art through a newly introduced section—Premiere.

Art Basel has unveiled its latest initiative—the Art Basel Awards—a groundbreaking recognition platform set to spotlight artists, curators, and influential figures who shape the global art landscape. This ambitious program underscores Art Basel’s growing commitment to acknowledging excellence and fostering innovation across artistic disciplines.

An African art collection is once again set for auction after its owner, Sam Njunuri, filed for bankruptcy earlier this year. The collection, comprising over 1,000 pieces including sculptures and monuments, has been at the centre of a legal dispute dating back to 2015.

First major UK solo exhibition of new and recent works by Lagos-based artist Nengi Omuku, exploring her profound relationship with the natural world.

Opening on 9th Ocotober, 2023, ‘PORTRAITS FOR ENGLISH TO SEE’, presents six new works that are part of René Tavares’ most recent and iconic painting series – “Portraits for English to See” and “Cotton People Reloaded”.

Art on the Underground, London, United Kingdom is set to present an exciting seminal performative work, Declaration of Independence, featuring multifaceted London-based artist, educator, and researcher, Barby Asante. This newly commissioned iteration will take place at Stratford Tube station on Sunday 17 September 2023.

Art Basel Hong Kong, will welcome a new participant this year: Retro Africa, a contemporary art gallery based in Abuja, Nigeria. This will be the gallery's first appearance at the prestigious fair, where it will present a solo show by Nigerian-American artist Victor Ehikhamenor.

The EMOWAA (Edo Museum of West African Art) Trust has announced the appointments of two distinguished art pioneers to strengthen its focus on modern and contemporary art. Professor Chika Okeke-Agulu, a Nigerian art historian and professor at Princeton University and Oxford University, will serve as Senior Advisor, Modern and Contemporary Art. Aindrea Emelife, a Nigerian-British curator and Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, will be the new Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art.

What does it mean to be green in a world that has been shaped by colonialism and capitalism? How can we rethink our relationship with nature and each other in the face of ecological crisis and social injustice? How can we reclaim and celebrate the diverse and sustainable ways of living that have been erased or marginalized by the dominant narratives of progress and development?

'El Anatsui is responsible for some of the most unique and unforgettable sculptures in recent times and we are delighted that he will tackle the Turbine Hall this autumn for the annual Hyundai Commission,' said Frances Morris, Director of Tate Modern.

In a time where diversity and inclusion are becoming more important in the art world, the exhibition, In the Black Fantastic, is a timely and impactful exhibition that spotlights Black African Contemporary artists. Curated by Ghanaian-British Writer & Curator, Ekow Eshun, the exhibition was initially held at the Hayward Gallery in London where thousands of spectators flocked to view the work in its entirety. As a result , the exhibition has now been reopened at the Kunsthal Museum in the Netherlands.