Bolatito Aderemi-Ibitola wins 2018 ART X Prize with Access

BOLATITO Aderemi-Ibitola has won the 2018 edition of the ‘ART X Prize with Access’ for emerging visual artists in Nigeria.

Aderemi-Ibitola was announced the winner of the prize instituted by leading Nigerian international art fair, ART X Lagos in conjunction with Access Bank at a presentation ceremony in Lagos on Wednesday. She emerged ahead of two other finalists, Williams Chechet and Ayo Akinwande.

Renowned visual artists, Professor Bruce Onobrakpeya; Yinka Shonibare MBE; Wura-Natasha Ogunji, Sokari Douglas-Camp and Oliver Enwonwu judged the several dozen entries that were received for the prize.

Aderemi-Ibitola, who emerged as the winner of the prize after live presentations to the jury members, is a trans-disciplinary artist working primarily in time-based art, interactivity and performance. She lives and works in Lagos and earned her Master’s in Performance Studies from Tisch School of the Performing Arts, New York University and holds a Bachelors in Communication Arts with a focus in Television/Film Production and a minor in Political Science from Allegheny College.

ALSO READ: Plateau killings: How Imam hid 262 people from killer herdsmen —BBC

Speaking about the prize, founder and director of ART X Lagos, Tokini Peterside, said: “The extraordinarily high quality of work we received speaks volumes about the potential of the art sector in Nigeria. We are delighted to have the privilege to support the prize winner, Bolatito Aderemi-Ibitola, at this pivotal stage in her career.  With the certainty that this will propel her forward towards a successful future within the African and global art industry, we look forward to unveiling Bolatito’s ambitious project at ART X Lagos 2018 in November. The project will introduce Bolatito to our international audience of critics, collectors and curators from renowned institutions around the world. We extend our heartfelt thanks to Access Bank for their support for this initiative and to our stellar jury for their tireless commitment and generosity to this effort.”

Herbert Wigwe, CEO and Group Managing Director of Access Bank Plc added, “At Access Bank, beyond our vast collection of established artists, we believe that we are also responsible for empowering emerging artists. This is why we continue to support the ART X Prize – to celebrate the ingenuity of Nigeria’s emerging artistic talent. I can see the recipient of the ART X Prize with Access being the next great artist of our time, endowing us with the potential and the privilege to shape the most relevant art that will come out of the African continent.”

On the selection process, Professor Onobrakpeya said: “The finalists have demonstrated far-sighted maturity in their presentations, in varied media, with demonstrable projects and feasible proposals. ART X Lagos must be congratulated for its professionalism in organising an international jury to deliberate on the ART X Prize with Access.”