Julius Agbaje from Nigeria and Asmaa Jama representing the African/Diasporan category have won the top prize at the 2023 Access ART X Prize.
The Access ART X Prize, a prestigious platform for recognising and nurturing emerging artistic talent from Africa and its diaspora were able to get these emerging artists from 3,500 entries.
Julius Agbaje and Asmaa Jama , who were announced at a ceremony, held at Access Holdings’ headquarters in Lagos, are now proud recipients of $10,000 grants and will have the honour of holding solo exhibitions at ART X Lagos 2024.
According to the organisers, the Nigerian winner will embark on a three-month residency at Gasworks, London, while the African/Diasporan winner will enjoy a residency at Yinka Shonibare’s GAS Foundation in Lagos. Both recipients will benefit from tailored mentorship and an invaluable opportunity for cultural exchange.
Speaking on the Access ART X Prize, Tokini Peterside-Schwebig, the founder of ART X Collective, expressed her excitement, stating:
“Our vision to showcase the depth and diversity of contemporary African art to the world revealed a critical necessity, which was the need to nurture and guide emerging talent on the continent to ensure their lasting impact.
The birth of the Access ART X Prize was fueled by an ardent commitment to bridging the gap for early-career artists, empowering them to evolve into adept, globally relevant creatives. We are elated that this platform has endured and thrived over the years, marked by substantial growth.”
