After twelve years of pushing boundaries and shaping conversations in the South African art scene, Kalashnikovv Gallery is officially closing its doors. M.J Turpin and Matthew Dean (Image credits: The Kalashnikovv Gallery) Founded in 2013 by M.J. Turpin and Matthew Dean Dowdle, the gallery established itself as a…
“And by the favor of God, you are not mad.” Kamene Cultural Center, Nairobi is currently showcasing Gods in Action exhibition by Sudanese-Norwegian artist Khalid Shatta. Curated by Rahiem Shadad, the exhibition centers on diverse representations of the divine through art, craft, music, and dance. Rooted in the…
Yale University has turned down two federal grants, citing objections to new restrictions targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. The grants, from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), were meant to support an upcoming exhibition on African art,…
In a groundbreaking fusion of art and motorsport, Nigerian-British contemporary artist Olaolu Slawn has brought his graffiti-inspired creativity to the world of Formula One. Through a bold collaboration with Red Bull’s Racing Bulls F1 team, Slawn has introduced a dynamic new visual identity that merges urban street culture…
France’s parliament has passed a new law allowing the permanent return of a sacred Ivorian drum taken by colonial troops in 1916. The Djidji ayôkwé talking drum (Image credit: © Pierre Firtion / RFI, December 2022.) The Djidji Ayokwè drum, once used by the Ébrié people of Côte…
Art Basel has appointed celebrated Egyptian artist and filmmaker Wael Shawky as Artistic Director of its inaugural Qatar edition, set to take place in Doha in 2025. The announcement marks a pivotal moment for the region’s cultural landscape, as the world’s leading contemporary art fair expands into the…
The Sharjah Art Foundation has named Angolan architect and curator Paula Nascimento as co-curator of Sharjah Biennial 17, set to open in January 2027. She will work alongside Berlin-based art historian and professor Angela Harutyunyan. Paula Nascimento. (Image credit: Raul Betti) Nascimento, born in Luanda in 1981, is…
Zimbabwean artist Richard Mudariki, known for his sharp political paintings and bold institutional critiques, was blocked from attending his own exhibition at Africa Basel after Swiss authorities denied his visa application. The irony? His show was about access, borders, and the global imbalance in artistic mobility. Richard Mudariki,…
The Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) in Benin City, Nigeria, has announced that it will officially open to the public on the 11th of November 2025. Initially announced in 2020, the MOWAA campus is designed as a 15-acre complex that will feature the MOWAA Institute for research…