Inside the Textile Language Installation by Art Comes First at 1-54 Art Fair
The 2025 Met Gala may have come to a close, but the conversation it sparked around Tailoring Black Style is far from over. In fact, it feels less like an ending and more like a new beginning—an extension of a dialogue that continues to reshape how we perceive style, identity, and heritage. As history has […]
The Future Feels Different Here: 7 African creatives who are reshaping design on their own terms
On April 21, the UN observed World Creativity and Innovation Day. But for many African designers, artists, and architects, that kind of thinking isn’t tied to a calendar. It’s just how the work gets done. Across the continent, new ideas are taking shape. Quietly. Experimentally. Sometimes defiantly. Some are working with buildings left unfinished for […]
Craft West Africa at Milan Design Week 2025
A decade ago, it might’ve been unimaginable to envision African design expanding across global platforms and shaping the future of design. But today, it’s clear: Africa is no longer on the sidelines—it’s leading. Milan Design Week remains one of the most anticipated events in the global design calendar. It’s a stage for innovation, where the […]
Vibrate Film Lab: Ghana’s New Haven for Analog Photography Unveiled by Surf Ghana Collective
In the 1950s, Ghana’s film photography scene burst to life, driven by pioneers like James Barnor and Felicia Abban. From Barnor’s Ever Young Studio to Abban’s trailblazing work as Ghana’s first professional female photographer, they captured a nation stepping into independence with analog cameras and darkroom magic. But as decades passed, digital technology, economic shifts, […]
The Enduring Power of the Drianké in Senegalese Culture and Art
In Senegal, particularly in the lively streets of Dakar, there is a woman whose presence commands respect and admiration. She is the “Drianké“. More than a symbol of beauty, she embodies wisdom, resilience, and leadership. Her influence stretches far beyond her carefully curated attire and radiant presence; she is the weaver of traditions, the keeper […]
Kimathi Mafafo’s Art Weaves Stories of Womanhood, Healing, and Identity
There is a certain mystique attached to artists who draw inspiration from pain. It places them in a different realm—allowing them to tap into a deeper creative source and forge an intimate connection with those who experience their work. This holds true for Kimathi Mafafo, the South African multidisciplinary artist whose medium of choice is […]
Bruin Feskens on Capturing Contrast, Crafting Stories, and Finding Beauty in Silence
Every tool we encounter serves a purpose in what we create as artists. In Bruin Fesken’s case, his use of light birthed a fascinating product that sparked our unique appreciation for the purity and crispness of black-and-white, with the contrast and exuberant experience of a stand-alone bold accent color. We experience the focus and characteristics […]
Meet Kwabena Ofe: The Ghanaian Textile Maverick Redefining Art and Identity
Kwabena Ofe Amponsah Gideon is a 23-year-old Ghanaian textile artist who began his creative journey as a fashion model before transitioning into the world of art particularly in the craft of rug making. Using sack linen as his canvas, he combines traditional techniques like batik and tie-dye with contemporary wool work to create pieces that […]
Sanjo Lawal: The Artsman Traveler Melding Heritage, Art, and Fashion
In the heart of Lagos, Nigeria—a city that never sleeps—Sanjo Lawal found his rhythm amid the chaos. Known for its relentless energy, bustling streets, and a never-ending soundtrack of honking cars, Lagos is where Lawal’s artistic journey began. His story is one of color, culture, and creativity, a narrative that crosses continents and mediums, inspired […]
The 15th Dakar Biennale: A Journey of Awakening and Transformation
Dakar wakes early, the air warm and thick with the rhythm of its people, its streets alive with the thrum of conversation and possibility. This city, a cultural crossroads where past and future meet, has always known how to tell its story. And this November, as the 15th Dakar Biennale unfolded, it spoke louder than […]