Revolving Art Incubator Marks 10 Years with 'Afterlives/AfterSpaces' Program

A decade after its inception, the Revolving Art Incubator (RAI) in Lagos is marking its 10th anniversary by revisiting the people, places, and ideas that have shaped its journey. The institution, founded by self-taught lens-based artist and cultural interlocutor Jumoke Sanwo in 2016, has consistently challenged conventional gallery models.

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For 10 years, RAI has been cultivating spaces for possibility, nurturing artists, ideas, materials and conversations at the intersections of memory, place and the future.

RAI's anniversary program, "Afterlives/AfterSpaces," runs from June to December and features a diverse range of activities. It commenced in June with a launch and InstaLive conversations, followed by an "In Memoriam" series in July dedicated to influential artists and cultural figures. August will bring urban interventions across Lagos, while September hosts the "Maker Lab" exhibition and symposium. The program continues in October with a film series and Storytelling Lab, a retrospective exhibition in November, and concludes in December with a final activation and outSPOKEN event.

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creating space where there was little

From its beginnings at Silverbird Galleria, RAI was conceived as a space for experimentation, fostering collaboration among artists, architects, designers, filmmakers, technologists, writers, and researchers. Sanwo envisioned contemporary art extending beyond gallery walls. Ten years later, she reflects on RAI's role in cultivating "spaces for possibility, nurturing artists, ideas, materials and conversations at the intersections of memory, place and the future." The incubator began by "creating space where there was little" and has evolved into a platform for activating knowledge, connecting histories, and imagining new futures.

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cultivating new pathways between the industrial and the artisanal

RAI is also exploring new connections between industrial and artisanal practices, questioning what can be created from local knowledge, materials, and cultural resources. The incubator has staged over 50 exhibitions and organized numerous residencies, workshops, and collaborative projects. Visual artist Victor Ehikhamenor recalled RAI's programming as "well curated" and appreciated the building's unique, labyrinthine character, which added to its appeal. Dr. Damola Adebowale of Asiri Magazine described RAI as a "necessary intervention" that continues to provide vital support to the art scene.

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our own knowledge, materials and cultural resources