Steve Ekpenisi | Ojo-Ogun, 2021
About
The African Art Series curates and installs contemporary African artworks in workplaces, commercial spaces, and public venues — bringing art out of private collections and gallery walls, into the spaces we live, work and connect.
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The African Art Series
What We Do.
We bring contemporary African art out of conventional spaces and into everyday environments — with a mission to embed bold visual storytelling into the professional and social settings of daily life.
Through curated installations in executive offices, luxury retail spaces, hotels, and private clubs, we push the boundaries of how art is presented and experienced — reaching broader audiences and acting as a catalyst for cultural exploration, exchange, and dialogue.
Each installation is fully tailored - from curatorial concept to artwork selection, delivery, and display, and is designed to spark curiosity, foster engagement, and expand perspectives. In doing so, The African Art Series creates quiet moments of discovery that invite connection, reflection, and renewed cultural awareness.
Breaking Convention and Barriers.
We believe meaningful art experiences shouldn’t be confined to galleries, museums and collectors, but encountered with ease and convenience. TAAS challenges the conventions that restrict access to art, offering high-quality experiences in the course of daily life. Whether over coffee, between meetings, or while shopping, we break traditional boundaries and open new access points for aesthetic and cultural enrichment.
Pushing Boundaries.
Contemporary African art is bold, energetic, and alive with diverse narratives, but often underrepresented in shared public space. The African Art Series creates opportunities for these works to be experienced in high-impact yet approachable contexts — offering a fresh visual counterpoint to the overwhelming stream of commercial imagery that dominates our public spaces, sparking fresh thought, and inviting dialogue without demanding it.
Supporting Artists.
We work closely with artists, collectors, and galleries to increase both visibility and opportunity. Our model provides meaningful exposure for a wide range of African artists while ensuring curatorial depth and integrity. Every installation contributes to a growing network of creative partnerships, cultural participation, and public appreciation for African artistic excellence.
BVLGARI HOTEL LONDON
THE LAUNCH
Iconic. Prestigious.
The African Art Series was launched with a landmark three-day exhibition at Bvlgari Hotel London, situated in Knightsbridge — one of London’s most elegant neighbourhoods. The hotel's interiors, rich in Sapele mahogany, damask silk, and polished marble, provided a refined and luxurious setting for the Series' inaugural public showcase.
Connecting art communities.
Guests - a diverse blend of collectors, curators and cultural spectators, were welcomed into the Bvlgari Ballroom to experience a curated selection of works from some of Africa's most celebrated artists. The setting complemented the distinctive energy of the pieces on display, and affirmed the public's appetite for integrated, accessible art experiences that feel natural, elegant, and immersive.
"We are proud to support the inaugural exhibition of The African Art Series, and look forward to welcoming and connecting with both the London and African art communities.”
- Kostas Sfaltos, Managing Director, Bvlgari Hotel London.
Emecheta Stanley Ekene | CouRage, 2021
Luminosity: A Celebration of African Creative Brilliance.
With advisory from Sotheby’s Modern & Contemporary African Art Department, the featured works, spanning painting, sculpture, textiles, and woodwork, reflected the bold intersection between African artistic traditions, diasporic identity, and evolving ideas of luxury — bridging visual culture from the continent with a modernist, Western context.
Masterworks by icons such as Ben Enwonwu MBE, Ablade Glover, El Anatsui, Bruce Onobrakpeya, and Victor Ekpuk were showcased alongside rising stars including Asiko, Wole Lagunju, Kelechi Nwaneri, Emecheta Stanley Ekene, Zanele Muholi, and Giggs Kgole. Together, they offered a rich, multidimensional view of Africa’s visual imagination — dynamic, emotional, and unmistakably contemporary.
In attendance was Hannah O’Leary, Director of Contemporary African Art at Sotheby’s, who shared insights on the market’s rapid global ascent, rising valuations, and growing international acclaim. Her guidance to new collectors was simple:
“As with any art, always check authenticity and provenance, and above all, buy what you love!.”
The Opportunity
The African Art Series offers forward-thinking companies and cultural venues a discreet yet impactful way to participate in a meaningful cultural initiative — one that elevates space, nurtures wellbeing, and amplifies the power of visual storytelling.
A curated installation by The African Art Series can:
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Activate and enrich interior spaces through compelling visual engagement
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Support employee wellbeing and strengthen team culture
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Enhance client and guest experiences with distinctive cultural value
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Align with DEI, ESG, and brand purpose in a thoughtful, visible way
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Demonstrate authentic commitment to cultural relevance and social connection
This is more than décor. It’s a conversation starter, a cultural statement, and a quiet catalyst for deeper human connection.
Victor Ekpuk | Guardian of the Pueblos (Santa Fe Suite), 2013
SPECIAL PROJECTS
a special project with The Financial Times
The African Art Series was born from a broader ambition: to inspire meaningful conversations about Africa’s creative and cultural capital — both within the continent and on the global stage.
The idea was seeded following a landmark panel discussion hosted in collaboration with the Financial Times at The Connaught Hotel in Mayfair. The event, initiated by Cas Ojo, founder of The African Art Series, explored the future of luxury and consumer industries in Nigeria — Africa’s most populous nation and one of its fastest-growing economies.
Moderated by David Pilling, Africa Editor at the FT, the panel welcomed over 100 senior executives from global institutions including American Express, Audemars Piguet, JP Morgan, Sotheby’s, Prada, and more.
Key participants included:
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Mo Abudu, CEO, EbonyLife Media — Named among Forbes' 100 Most Powerful Women
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Reni Folawiyo, Founder, Alára — West Africa’s first fashion and lifestyle concept store
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Tom Meggle, Former MD, Louis Vuitton UK, Ireland & South Africa
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Brigitte Stepputtis, Global Head of Couture, Vivienne Westwood
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Bola Atta, Group Director, United Bank for Africa (UBA)
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James Benoit, MD, FCMB Bank — Delivered keynote address
The African Art Series was later created as a cultural platform to continue this dialogue — through visual storytelling, refined curatorial practice, and partnerships that elevate Africa’s place in global creative conversations.