4. African Modernism and Alternative Systems of Mediation and Valuation

The visibility of marginalised agents in the international art world has often developed through unorthodox platforms that eschewed, challenged or disrupted dominant institutions and epistemologies. Building on foundational work by Okwui Enwezor, Kobena Mercer and Chika Okeke-Agulu, this session explores the career trajectories of modern and contemporary African artists and considers how they have navigated alternative systems, achieved institutional inclusion, or developed independent sources of legitimation for their work. Although the end of the Cold War diminished Eurocentric domination of the international art world, African modern and contemporary art was, until the 21st Century, largely excluded from the mainstream of the international art system. In consequence, its emerging internationalisation and market value were driven by alternative networks of dealers, art fairs, museums, collectors, artist-run spaces, and individual auctioneers. Partly propelled by the Black Lives Matter movement, modern and contemporary African artists are now included in blue-chip gallery rosters, museum collections, and biennials. Their works are setting record prices in auctions. What factors have influenced these developments? How have markets and museums combined to produce new discourses about contemporary African art and generate increases in its financial value? What role has art history played in shaping market discourses about African modernism and creating new opportunities for artists? We welcome papers from a range of perspectives that discuss the individuals, institutions, and agents who, acting individually or in groups, have mediated the concept of African modern and contemporary art and created systems for shaping its financial and aesthetic value.

Themes: African Modernism, Alternative Systems, Valuation

Lead Convenor: Jonathan Adeyemi, School of Social Sciences and Humanities, Communication and Media Department, Loughborough University, United Kingdom

Co-convenors: Kathryn Brown, School of Social Sciences and Humanities, Communication and Media Department, Loughborough University, United Kingdom

To submit a Paper to this Session, please follow the guidance on our website and complete the AAH 2027 Call for Papers Proposal Submission Form.