Tokini Peterside-Schwebig is connecting Nigerian art with global audiences through ART X Lagos.
Tokini Peterside-Schwebig is a Nigerian entrepreneur and the founder of ART X Collective, the company behind ART X Lagos, widely regarded as West Africa’s first international art fair. She grew up in Lagos in a culturally engaged household, developing an early interest in art and culture.
Tokini Peterside-Schwebig holds a First-Class Law degree from the London School of Economics and an MBA from INSEAD. Her career initially focused on luxury brand management, including a role as Head of Marketing at Moët-Hennessy in Nigeria. However, in 2012, she founded a consultancy specialising in fashion, culture, and luxury branding, which later transformed into ART X Collective, shifting its primary focus to the arts.e
Launching the West African art fair
As her entrepreneurial journey advanced, she launched ART X Lagos in 2016 to increase the visibility of contemporary African visual arts in Nigeria and connect local artists with international audiences. Since its launch, the fair has showcased more than 120 artists from over 70 countries, collaborating with a network of established international galleries.
ART X Lagos features a diverse programme across disciplines such as visual art, music, design, film, and literature. The brand has also established a platform that offers grants and residencies for emerging African creatives, as part of the fair’s wider activities.
Over the years, the fair has attracted thousands of visitors annually, including collectors, curators, and cultural practitioners from within Africa and beyond. According to organisers, it has enhanced Lagos’s cultural profile and supported local industries like tourism, hospitality, and art sales. The event has also served as a forum for discussing social and political issues through artistic expression.
The Nigerian businesswoman remains closely involved in the running of ART X Lagos, engaging with both artists and commercial stakeholders. Her work continues to champion the fields of art and business, with ART X Lagos positioned as part of a growing African art market that seeks greater international recognition.
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