Throughout much of art history, the names etched into global memory (Picasso, Warhol, Basquiat, Pollock) have overwhelmingly been men. Yet, in the realm of contemporary African art, that narrative is steadily shifting.
African women are stepping into the spotlight, not only by claiming space but by reshaping it too. Through their voices, visions, and vibrant expressions, they are challenging conventions and transforming the cultural landscape
From Lagos to Johannesburg, Nairobi to Dakar, African women artists are redefining what it means to create, to lead, and to provoke thought. Their work spans mediums, painting, sculpture, photography, performance and speaks to their lived experiences, ancestral memory, and urgent social issues. These artists are not only gaining recognition in internationally acclaimed galleries, art fairs, and biennales; they are also inspiring new generations to see art as a tool for activism, healing, and cultural reclamation. In their rise, we witness a renaissance, one that is unapologetically African, boldly feminine, and deeply transformative.
Power on the Canvas
The last fifteen years of the FNB Art Prize tell the story. Portia Zvavahera’s dreamlike canvases, Peju Alatise’s mythologies of girlhood, Bronwyn Katz’s explorations of memory and land, and Lady Skollie’s unapologetic provocations have each pushed the boundaries of contemporary African art.
Beyond awards, these women’s works have taken centre stage at FNB Art Joburg, placing them on one of the continent’s most important cultural platforms and connecting African creativity to global audiences.
Women who built the foundations
This momentum builds on foundations laid by pioneering figures like the late Koyo Kouoh, who transformed institutions from Dakar to Cape Town, and even the Venice Biennale (just before her untimely death last year). The late Bisi Silva’s Centre for Contemporary Art similarly nurtured generations of artists in Lagos. Their vision showed that contemporary African art could be global, opening doors for the diverse voices shaping its future today.
The future is inclusive
The next decade of contemporary African art will be written by artists and leaders willing to experiment, disrupt, and dream beyond boundaries. Women are at the forefront of this creative surge, alongside peers of all genders, driving a creative landscape that is more inclusive, expansive and globally relevant than ever before. Their work ensures that art continues to be a powerful mirror to society, a catalyst for change, and a space where imagination leads transformation.
Representation must become equity, and equity must become inclusion, if contemporary African art is to be truly transformative. This is not about a few exceptional names. It is a generational shift that is bringing fresh, boundary-pushing perspectives into focus while enriching the entire ecosystem of African art.
A call to action
Africa’s cultural infrastructure is already taking meaningful steps toward diverse expression.
That said, the next challenge is to ensure that this progress translates into long-term and sustained influence with institutions recognising that future value lies in fully embracing diversity and allowing it to thrive and investing in the next wave of artists ready to lead.
This will determine how Africa tells its story to itself and to the world.
Women and their peers are already showing us that the future of contemporary African art is bold, inclusive, and transformative. Across studios, galleries, and cultural institutions, women are not only claiming space, but they are also reshaping it. Their presence and leadership affirm a powerful truth, when women rise, art doesn’t just reflect change, it leads it.
The FNB Art Fair is currently underway at the Sandton Convention Centre where the truth is on display.
