Highlights on talks programme 

The programme will open with a session hosted by the Sharjah Foundation, a pivotal cultural institution based in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. The Foundation is renowned for its commitment to fostering cultural exchange and supporting contemporary art practices from across the Arab world and beyond. Their involvement in the fair highlights their role in promoting dialogue between different cultural spheres, particularly focusing on contemporary art from Africa and the Middle East. This session will offer attendees valuable insights into the Foundation’s initiatives and its impact on the international art landscape.

Following this, the fair will present an engaging discussion titled “Artful Motherhood: Navigating Creativity and the Influence of Parenthood on Artistic Practice.” This talk, presented by Cynthia Corbett Gallery, will feature Chicago-based painter Ashley January and UK-based photographer Dola Posh. 

January and Posh will share their personal experiences of how motherhood intersects with their artistic careers. January is known for her evocative paintings that often explore themes of identity and resilience, while Posh’s photography captures intimate moments and narratives within familial contexts.

The second day will also include a panel titled “Bridging Cultures: Promoting African Art in the Asian Market”, featuring Pearl Lam, a prominent art gallerist with a strong presence in Hong Kong and Shanghai; Nigerian contemporary artist Alimi Adewale; and Alayo Akinkugbe, a writer, art historian, and curator known for her influential Instagram account “A Black History of Art” and her podcast “A Shared Gaze”. This will delve into the opportunities and challenges of promoting African art within the Asian market, discussing the cross-cultural exchanges and market dynamics that influence how African art is received and appreciated in Asia.

On the third day, the talk program will feature “Portrait & Place: Photography in Senegal, 1840-1960”, led by Giulia Paoletti, an associate professor of art history at the University of Virginia. Paoletti will examine the evolution of photography in Senegal from the early daguerreotypes to the modernist practices of photographers like Oumar Ka. This discussion will explore how photography in Senegal intersected with various cultural and colonial influences, challenging conventional assumptions about modernity and African photography.

Additional sessions on the third day include “Holding Space, Black Trans Creative Placemaking”, which will explore the intersection of Black Trans identity and artistic expression with Sola Olulode and Kamari Romeo, as well as a conversation between artist Alexis Peskine and curator Katherine Finerty. Peskine is known for his impactful works that address themes of identity and socio-political issues, while Finerty’s curatorial practice focuses on contemporary art’s engagement with cultural narratives.

The day will conclude with a conversation between British-Nigerian artist Tunji Adeniyi-Jones and broadcaster, curator, and writer Ekow Eshun. 

They will discuss Adeniyi-Jones’ new monograph, Tunji Adeniyi-Jones – Encounters, which provides a comprehensive overview of his work, including his recent participation in the Nigerian Pavilion at the Venice Biennale. The discussion will focus on how Adeniyi-Jones explores African cultural heritage through his paintings, with themes of religion, family, and spirituality.

On the final day, the program will feature a panel discussion on “Emerging Black Artists and the Global Art Ecosystem,” which will begin with a screening of John Campbell’s documentary series Who’s Behind Black Art. This series profiles young Black artists, shedding light on their struggles and successes. 

The panel, moderated by Sharon Walters, will include Campbell, Emmanuel Unaji, an emerging artist known for his innovative approaches, and Àsìkò, whose work explores themes of identity and cultural heritage.

The day will also include an in-conversation event with artist Abe Odedina and author and journalist Lara Pawson, hosted by Ed Cross Gallery. Their discussion will explore themes of intimacy and domestic objects, connecting Pawson’s acclaimed book Spent Light with Odedina’s practice.

Finally, the talk programme will feature a panel on “The Development of the Regional Art Ecosystem around the Horn of Africa and recent Market Challenges for Niche Galleries” with Rakeb Sile and Mesai Haileleul, co-founders and directors of Addis Fine Art, moderated by art historian and curator Carrie Scott and we will be closing this year’s London fair with a conversation about “Art as a Tool for Change: The Potential of Congolese Contemporary Art on the Global Stage” that addresses the representation and impact of Congolese art in the global market, highlighting the unique contributions of Congolese artists to the international art scene.