Nkem Odeh

From Afrofuturistic photography to socio-political painting, contemporary African artists are redefining the global art scene. This list features ten artists whose work is vital, visionary, and deeply rooted in cultural identity, memory, and innovation.

Paula Nascimento, an architect and independent curator based in Luanda, has been announced as co-curator of Sharjah Biennial 17 (January 2027), working in tandem with Berlin-based professor Angela Harutyunyan. Their collaboration promises an experimental, critically engaged biennial grounded in shared histories and global reflections.

The Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) in Benin City opens in November 2025 as a major cultural hub. The first stage features the new research-focused MOWAA Institute, alongside its inaugural exhibition Nigeria Imaginary: Homecoming. Designed by Adjaye Associates, the campus includes galleries, labs, performance spaces, and houses newly repatriated Benin Bronzes and contemporary artworks by Nigerian creators.

For the third year in a row, Rómulo Santa Rita was chosen to design Grupo Cosal’s annual cover—this time crafting “Embondeiro,” a bronze sculpture inspired by a poem by Manuel Rui Monteiro. Featuring topographic reliefs of Kamacupa, the piece symbolises rootedness, artistic collaboration, and the deep connection between land, memory, and identity.

The Sarasota Art Museum’s ongoing 2025 exhibitions celebrate contemporary Black creativity with immersive works and a touring showcase featuring prints, quilts, sculptures, and installations by major names such as Martin Puryear, Kerry James Marshall, Gee’s Bend Quilters, and Lillian Blades. Through these transformative exhibitions, SAM continues to support artists illuminating stories of heritage, identity, and reflection.

Relooted, launching later in 2025, is a puzzle-platform video game where players infiltrate Western museums to recover colonial-era African artifacts. Using stealth gameplay inspired by parkour and set in an Afrofuturistic near‑future, the game reflects the reality that 90% of Sub‑Saharan African cultural heritage is held outside the continent.

Explore how African diaspora artists—through exhibitions, institutions, and digital innovation—have reshaped global contemporary art. This article charts their influence, showcasing both historical milestones and today's vibrant expressions.

Ghanaian sculptor Kwame Akoto‑Bamfo uses his large installations and the Ancestor Project at Nkyinkyim Museum to confront the horrors of the transatlantic slave trade. His haunting sculptures—displayed globally and in Alabama—give voice to erased histories and foster collective healing.