The third edition of the +234 Art Fair, held from March 5 to 8, 2026, at the Ecobank Pan African Centre in Victoria Island, recently wrapped up after captivating over a thousand visitors and leaving a lasting impression on Nigeria's contemporary art scene.
This year's edition, themed
"Inclusivity", lived up to its name by featuring more than 1,000
artworks from over 400 emerging artists, a dramatic increase from previous years that
typically highlighted around 200 participants. The fair spanned diverse
mediums, including digital arts, 2D/fine arts, sculpture, and photography,
drawing from more than 1,500 submissions submitted nationwide.
The event's emphasis on
inclusivity extended far beyond the artworks themselves. Organizers conducted
an extensive month-long outreach tour across 17 states in the North, East, and
South-West, deliberately reaching underserved and distant communities often
overlooked in Lagos-centric art events. This nationwide effort, documented in a
film supported by The Osahon Okunbo Foundation, helped bridge geographical
barriers and brought fresh, diverse voices to the forefront.
Tola Akerele, General
Manager of the National Theatre, Founder of +234 Art Fair, and Soto Gallery,
explained the fair's core mission: "We know that many artists across
Nigeria are extremely talented but do not always have platforms to showcase
their work. This fair is designed to bring their works to public attention and
allow people to engage with them."
Akerele highlighted the
fair's alignment with Women's Month, noting the particular challenges faced by
female artists, who often exit the profession due to insufficient support.
"Our goal is to support more female artists as much as possible to bring
in and retain more women in the sector," she said.
Curatorial lead Eyimofe Ideh
emphasized how the expanded outreach transformed participation: "We
travelled to 17 states across the north, south and east to ensure artists in
far regions were aware of the fair and could participate." She added that
organizers provided sponsorship for transporting artworks from remote areas,
addressing longstanding logistical hurdles that had previously discouraged
submissions.
The fair also served as an
accessible entry point for new art collectors, with many pieces priced affordably
— starting as low as N100,000. "A lot of people look forward to the fair,
especially those trying to get into the art space; this is a good platform to
start buying art because the works are affordable," Ideh noted.
Ahmed Bashir Sodangi,
Director-General of the National Gallery of Art (NGA), delivered a keynote
address titled "Beyond the Moment: Building a Sustainable Career in Visual
Art." He stressed the importance of institutional frameworks:
"While exhibitions and viral recognition can propel artists into the
spotlight, such moments often fail to translate into long-term professional
growth without adequate institutional support." Sodangi called for
stronger systems in documentation, regulation, market access, professional
standards, and institutional backing to foster sustainable careers.
Ecobank Nigeria's support
underscored the event's broader economic impact. Omoboye Odun, Head of SME,
Partnerships and Collaboration at Ecobank Nigeria, stated: "The art sector
forms part of the broader creative economy which has significant potential to
contribute to economic growth. Platforms like +234 Art Fair provide the stage
for visibility, inclusion and economic viability for emerging artists."
Project manager Joanna
Oyefeso described the six-month preparation as complex yet rewarding, with
intentional efforts to weave inclusivity into every aspect, from curation to
documentation. "We wanted to show people how the journey to this stage
came about," she said.
Among the participating
artists was fashion creative and photographer Godwin Okoruwa, whose work was
discovered serendipitously via Instagram. Three of his submitted images,
featuring handmade outfits by his mother and styled by him, were selected.
"This is the first time participating at this fair and the reception has
been great. I cannot wait for what the next edition has in store," he
shared.
By amplifying underrepresented
talents and positioning Nigerian creativity on a global stage, the +234 Art
Fair 3.0 not only celebrated artistic excellence but also reinforced the
creative economy's role in national development and cultural representation. As
Nigeria's art scene continues to evolve, initiatives like this signal a
promising future for emerging voices nationwide.
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