ART X Lagos is set to celebrate its tenth anniversary from November 6 to 9, 2025, marking a significant milestone in the African art scene. Central to this commemorative fair is “An Exacting Eye,” a landmark exhibition dedicated to the iconic Nigerian photographer J.D. ’Okhai Ojeikere. For more than six decades, Ojeikere meticulously and reverently documented Nigeria, transforming the mundane into enduring symbols of African modernity. His lens captured the inherent grace in everyday existence, from the intricate artistry of hairstyles to the structural beauty of urban architecture. This expansive survey at ART X Lagos 10X serves as a homecoming for his powerful images, celebrating both the artist and his distinctive methodology, and underscoring art’s profound ability to preserve the essence of collective identity.

Born in Ovbiomu-Emai, Edo State, in 1930, J.D. ’Okhai Ojeikere embarked on his photographic journey in the 1950s, a pivotal period as Nigeria approached independence. His photographic approach was characterized by its meticulousness, elevating ordinary individuals into extraordinary subjects through his masterful manipulation of light and composition. His most celebrated work, the ‘Hairstyles’ series, stands as an invaluable visual lexicon of Nigerian identity. This collection, comprising hundreds of portraits, reveals the sculptural beauty of hair as a dual expression of personal style and political assertion. Each meticulously captured braid, twist, and knot serves not only as a marker of cultural sophistication but also as a reflection of the burgeoning confidence of postcolonial Nigeria. At a time when external perspectives often dominated the narrative of Africa, Ojeikere redefined modern African aesthetics from within, establishing a new visual language through his discipline, elegance, and technical mastery. His enduring influence continues to resonate with and shape the work of artists and photographers across the African continent and diaspora.

“An Exacting Eye” extends beyond mere historical retrospection, actively building bridges to the future. Complementing the exhibition, ‘The Masterclass’ program will be led by Ojeikere’s son, Amaize Ojeikere. This initiative will mentor ten emerging Nigerian photographers in Lagos, providing them with a unique opportunity to engage directly with J.D. ’Okhai Ojeikere’s profound legacy. Participants will delve into themes of form, repetition, and identity through structured workshops. Following this intensive mentorship, selected artists will receive production grants and the opportunity for public showcases, ensuring that Ojeikere’s influential vision continues to evolve through new perspectives. This forward-looking methodology encapsulates the very spirit of ART X Lagos, a fair that eschews mere nostalgia, instead positioning heritage as a robust foundation for continued innovation. This dynamic, intergenerational dialogue makes the exhibition an unmissable cultural event.

Ojeikere’s genius was rooted in his remarkable restraint. While many photographers pursued spectacle, he was dedicated to structure. His portraits, characterized by their crispness, thoughtful composition, and deliberate execution, elevate African aesthetics to a level akin to architectural design. In this way, he achieved a rare feat: transforming beauty into documentation, and documentation into a form of resistance. His body of work powerfully reminds us that visual culture is a form of authorship, where the individual framing the image ultimately dictates whose story is told. Viewed today within the global platform provided by ART X Lagos, Ojeikere’s archive feels prophetic. As African artists increasingly contribute to and shape global conversations concerning identity, representation, and belonging, his photographs remain a vital compass, firmly grounding the present in the profound dignity of the past. To appreciate Ojeikere’s contributions is to acknowledge the crucial importance of how we perceive ourselves and how future generations will ultimately remember us.

The ART X ICON exhibition, “An Exacting Eye,” will be on display from November 6–9, 2025, at the Federal Palace, Lagos, as a key component of ART X Lagos 10X. Tickets for the event are available for purchase.