Tiwani Contemporary Closes After 15 Years of Championing African Art

After 15 years of operation, Tiwani Contemporary, a gallery focused on contemporary African art with locations in London and Lagos, has announced its closure as of May 28. The decision was driven by unsustainable financial difficulties stemming from increasing operational expenses and market unpredictability. Established in 2011 by Maria Varnava in Fitzrovia, London, Tiwani was a trailblazer for African art during a time when Western collectors showed limited interest. The gallery showcased talents such as Gareth Nyandoro from Zimbabwe and Eritrean photographer Dawit L. Petros, while also promoting Black-British artists like Michaela Yearwood-Dan and Joy Labinjo. Recently, Tiwani expanded with a Lagos space in 2022 and relocated to a larger venue on Cork Street in Mayfair in 2023. It actively participated in major art fairs, including Frieze London and Art X Lagos, and was set to appear at Liste Basel before withdrawing. To ensure a transparent closure, the gallery has engaged insolvency experts BTG Begbies Traynor (Central) LLP. Varnava expressed her heartfelt appreciation to artists, collectors, curators, and staff, acknowledging the difficulty of the decision.