+234ARTFAIR Begins; Finalists for Ellipse Prize 2025; Spotlighting Tiffany Alfonseca
Fiber art is the use of natural (like wool, cotton, or silk) or synthetic fibers (like rayon, or polyester) to create artistic works. Knitting, felting, and embroidery are examples of how fibers may be incorporated into different art forms. Here are three female fiber artists you should have on your radar.
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The second edition of the +234ARTFAIR is on!
Hosted by Soto Gallery, in partnership with Ecobank Nigeria Limited, the second edition of the +234Art Fair is open. From March 27th to March 31st, 2025, the fair will take place at the Ecobank Pan African Center (EPAC) in Victoria Island, Lagos.
The +234ARTFAIR is a platform that supports emerging artists and encourages increased interest in art acquisition, thereby contributing to the growth and prosperity of the local art sector as well as its international recognition.
Showcasing painting, photography, and sculpture, this year’s edition will provide the public with an up-close look at the latest creative endeavours of emerging artists in Nigeria.
Ellipse Prize 2025 Announces Finalists of 5th Edition
Sena Burgundy, Reginald Boateng, Emmanuel Aggrey Tieku, Nana Frimpong Oduro, Dela Anyah have been selected as the 5 finalists for the 2025 ellipse prize. Themed Butterfly Effect, this fifth edition is dedicated to emerging artists living in Ghana and Ghanaians living on the African continent.
Selected among 82 applications by an independent jury composed by contemporary art professionals, including specialists in the Ghanaian art scene: Victoria Mann (Founder and director of the AKAA fair, Paris), Barbara Kokpavo Janvier (Founder and director of the Gallery Soview, Accra), and Binta Ata (Founder and director of the Mix Design Hub, Accra), the 5 finalists will present their work in an exhibition at the Mix Design Hub in Accra, from April 11 to 27, 2025.
The winner of the 2025 ellipse prize will be announced on Wednesday, June 4. They will benefit from a production grant and an exhibition at the international fair AKAA – ALSO KNOWN AS AFRICA from October 24 to 26, 2025.
150 artists of African descent celebrated in 'Black Paris' exhibition at Pompidou Center
At the Pompidou Center in Paris, the “Black Paris” exhibition features the works of about 150 major artists of African descent, many of whom have never or rarely been displayed in France before. Running from March 19 to June 30, this is one of the final shows before the museum closes for a five-year renovation later this year.
The exhibition explores the presence and influence of Black artists in the city from the 1950s to 2000, offering a vibrant immersion in France's cosmopolitan capital and a history of anti-colonial, civil rights struggles. The Pompidou Center has acquired around 40 of the show's artworks, which will remain part of the museum’s collection.
“This is just the beginning,” Alicia Knock, curator of the exhibition, said. “It’s a baby step for many French institutions, French museums and French universities to start working on these artists, start collecting them, writing about them, preserving their works in their archives and hopefully dedicating a lot of solo shows to many of these artists, because they really deserve it."
Artist Spotlight: Tiffany Alfonseca
Tiffany Alfonseca (b.1994) is a Dominican-American artist known for her vibrant portrayals of Afro-Diasporic communities and culture. Her work captures the essence of her heritage, exploring the intersectionality of race, identity, and everyday life.
Tiffany Alfonseca primarily employs the act of painting and drawing as her artistic weapons of choice. She situates her subjects within bold and picturesque settings in an active pursuit of opportunities that explore the nuances of the communities in which she is immersed in. Through immersion and rumination, Alfonseca utilizes these experiences as reference material within her work as she toils to construct new narratives and build a universe that is reflective of her upbringing as a Dominican-American woman from Uptown.
On view:
Echo የገደል ማሚቶ: The Kunstpalast Düsseldorf in Germany is hosting Ethiopian artist Elias Sime’s first solo, showcasing his works from the early 2000s to the present, emphasizing his innovative use of electronic waste in large-format reliefs. (February 12 – June 1, 2025)
Memories of Yellow: Gallery 1957 presents a solo exhibition by Jeremiah Quarshie as he weaves themes of unpredictability, memory, and power into a vivid exploration of Accra’s water crisis. (March 6 – April 26, 2025).
Memories and dreams of a destiny: OOA Gallery is thrilled to inaugurate its new art season in Sitges, Barcelona, showcasing the work of four Ivorian artists: Aboudia, Jacobleu, Mederic Turay, and Armand Boua. (March 29 - April 27, 2025).
