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About
Àsìkò Art School
Àsìkò Art School is an experimental, intensive art programme initiated in 2010 by the Centre for Contemporary Art Lagos (CCA Lagos) under the vision of curator **Bisi Silva. The programme was created to address gaps in art education in Nigeria and across Africa, particularly the lack of emphasis on critical thinking, theory, and contemporary artistic methodologies in traditional art training.
The word “Àsìkò” means “time” in the Yoruba language, symbolizing reflection, learning, and the development of artistic practice through dialogue and experimentation.
The Concept & Vision
Àsìkò was designed as a hybrid platform combining elements of a workshop, residency, and art academy. Instead of focusing only on technical training, the programme emphasizes conceptual thinking, interdisciplinary practice, and critical engagement with contemporary culture and society.
The programme aims to:
– Fill the educational gap in many African art systems where critical methodologies and art histories are often underrepresented.
– Encourage experimentation across different media, including photography, performance, installation, video, and digital practices.
– Build local and continental support structures for artistic research and production.
– Foster dialogue between artists, curators, writers, and cultural practitioners from Africa and the diaspora.
Previous Editions
Lagos, Accra, Dakar, Maputo, Addis Ababa, and Praia, with each edition engaging deeply with the cultural and historical context of the host city.
Participated Artists
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Realised Exibition
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Structure of the Programme
The programme usually includes:
Portfolio reviews and mentorship sessions
This structure encourages participants to reflect critically on their practice while engaging with wider cultural, historical, and political contexts.
Geographic and Cultural Context
While originally developed in Lagos, Àsìkò has been hosted in several African cities, creating a pan-African network of artists and thinkers. Previous editions have taken place in locations such as Lagos, Accra, Dakar, Maputo, Addis Ababa, and Praia, with each edition engaging deeply with the cultural and historical context of the host city.
For example, the 2025 edition in Cairo explores the theme “Holding Memory,” examining how memory, history, archives, and storytelling shape contemporary artistic practice.