Tiwani Contemporary, a prominent gallery for African and diaspora art, has permanently closed its London location and paused operations at its Lagos outpost, citing financial challenges and a weakening contemporary art market, per artnet.com.
The gallery announced the closures on May 28, describing the decision as “extremely painful”. It attributed the move to rising operating costs and “a difficult market” for contemporary art, which has contracted sharply from its 2022 peak.
Founded in London in 2011 by Maria Varnava, Tiwani is named after the Yoruba phrase “it belongs to us”. The gallery opened a two-storey Cork Street space in 2023 and a 2,000-square-foot Lagos location in 2022, where Varnava was raised.
In a statement, Varnava said she was “profoundly grateful to the artists who have entrusted us with their work” and thanked collectors, curators and collaborators for supporting the gallery’s 15-year commitment to African art.
Tiwani’s roster includes Alicia Henry, Dawit L. Petros, Umar Rashid (Frohawk Two Feathers) and Theo Eshetu, who is currently showing in Koyo Kouoh’s “In Minor Keys” at the 61st Venice Biennale. The gallery previously represented Joy Labinjo and exhibited Njideka Akunyili Crosby, Kapwani Kiwanga, Simone Leigh and Michaela Yearwood-Dan early in their careers.
The gallery was a regular at international fairs, including Frieze London, Los Angeles and New York, 1-54 London, Art Basel Miami Beach and Art X Lagos. It has withdrawn from Liste in Basel next month.
BTG Begbies Traynor (Central) LLP will oversee the closure. Tiwani said it would prioritise the needs of its artists.
London has been a key centre for contemporary African art, but the sector is “under pressure,” according to Frank Kilbourn, chairman of South African auction house Strauss and Co. Total auction sales of work by African artists have fallen well short of the $116.5 million peak recorded in 2022.
•Featured image: Tiwani Contemporary/courtesy Tiwani Contemporary.
