‘Art Fairs are critical stimuli to economic growth’
CEO, Thought Pyramid Arts Centre, Chief Jeff Ajueshi set new record recently with the organizing of two successful Art Fairs back to back last year November and December in Benin
CEO, Thought Pyramid Arts Centre, Chief Jeff Ajueshi set new record recently with the organizing of two successful Art Fairs back to back last year November and December in Benin City, Edo State capital and Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory. In this chat with Assistant Editor (Arts) OZOLUA UHAKHEME, Chief Ajueshi speaks on how art fairs contribute to the economy, the logistic and financial demands of organizing two fairs in the last two months of the year, choice of artists and artworks for the fairs, among others.
What inspired the Abuja Art Fair to start with?
The Abuja Art Fair was conceived to position Abuja as a cultural hub and centre for creativity, cultural exchange, and artistic visibility within Nigeria and beyond. It aims to create a dynamic platform for showcasing contemporary art by emerging Nigerian and African artists alongside established names; strengthen the capital’s creative ecosystem, connecting artists with collectors, curators, and corporate and diplomatic stakeholders; foster dialogue, education, and collaboration across disciplines, while encouraging art appreciation, collecting, and cultural diplomacy; expand opportunities for visual artists to exhibit, sell, and network beyond local markets, helping integrate Nigerian art into global contexts.
How did the fairs contribute to sustaining and growing the local art economy?
Even in its first edition, the Abuja Art Fair is shaping several contributions to the local art economy. Economic sustainability and growth, market creation: Offers a structured marketplace where artists can sell work, interact with collectors, and explore commercial relationships. Professional development: Workshops and master-classes help artists better understand the business side of art (pricing, marketing, international opportunities).
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Networking: Curators, sponsors, corporate partners, and diplomatic guests engage with artists—boosting access to funding, partnerships, and future opportunities.
Cultural tourism: Positioning Abuja as a cultural destination can attract visitors and buyers beyond local audiences.
Art appreciation in ecosystem: Panel talks and educational programmes deepen public engagement with contemporary art. All of these foster visibility, professional opportunities, and financial pathways crucial to a thriving local art economy.
What role do you see art fairs play in strengthening Nigeria’s global artistic presence?
Art fairs are now essential platforms in Nigeria’s cultural development and global artistic footprint: Catalytic role of Art Fairs.
Global exposure: They put Nigerian artists on the radar of international curators, galleries, museums, and collectors, building international careers.
Cultural exchange: Fairs support dialogues that transcend national boundaries, bringing global narratives into Nigerian art practice and vice versa.
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Market integration: By connecting Nigerian art markets with global collectors, fairs drive economic valuation and demand for African art.
Institutional growth: Regular fairs help build infrastructure (catalogues, archives, professional standards) that integrate Nigeria into the global cultural calendar.
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This is seen in how established events like ART X Lagos has become key cultural milestones, attracting international attention and elevating Nigeria’s profile in the worldwide art scene.
How convenient was it to host two major fairs in a year?
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Hosting two major art fairs annually (e.g., Abuja Art Fair and Benin Art Fair offers both opportunities and challenges. The benefits include increased visibility as the two events give artists and galleries more chances to showcase work. It enhances ecosystem growth. Regular fairs cultivate markets, audiences, and professional networks.
Artist mobility: It provides greater opportunities for artists to meet collectors, curators, and peers. But, for challenges, it requires lots of resources both human and financial. It also requires strong organisational capacity and funding to maintain high standards.
Calendar coordination: This is to prevent clashes ensuring each event maintains distinct identity and focus. Also, audience attention is very critical: Sustaining engagement so that fairs don’t dilute attention or market enthusiasm.
Overall, if well-coordinated, such a biannual rhythm can strengthen Nigeria’s art ecosystem, giving artists more touch-points and expanding cultural impact both locally and globally.
