‘No longer on the margins’: how women are outperforming men in Africa’s art market

Ethiopian-American artist Julie Mehretu was the best-selling artist in the African art market last year. Photograph: Bianca De Marchi/AAP/Alamy

When female African artists collectively surpassed men in auction sales in 2023 for the first time, many dismissed it as an anomaly. But the trend persisted. In 2024 women maintained a strong 52.8% share of sales, despite a broader decline in the African art market.

“This shift marks a significant moment in art market history, particularly as global sales of women artists have not yet reached parity with men,” says Lindsay Dewar, chief operating officer of research company ArtTactic. “The African art scene stands out as a leader, where women artists are thriving and performing exceptionally well.”