New Pan African platform for art sharing and investment launches in South Africa

By Edward Tsumele, CITYLIFE/ARTS Editor

The atmosphere was great and you could feel that something great in the arts was about to be announced as we filed into the upmarket Mesh Club in Rosebank recently. It was the announcement of a new art sharing and investment opportunity aimed particularly at those that have always wanted  to invest in African contemporary art but did not know which artist to invest in how.

Also for those that already have a growing collection of contemporary art from Africa and have always wished for a way to monetise their growing collection, now is an opportunity to do so. And to do so you do not need to leave your home as it takes just a click to do so.

As soon as we arrived, we were ushered into the cosy exclusive back section of the club, where enjoyed a sumptuous meal while the team behind Art Split introduced themselves and their new art marketing and art investment product.

Lead by two dynamic women this APP has the potential to change how art is appreciated, collected and shared on the African continent.

This APP comes against the understanding these days that art is no longer for the elite few or only meant to be enjoyed in galleries now that ARTSPLIT has created the new art economy. ARTSPLIT is creating a community for art lovers across the continent to enjoy and invest in African artworks. The company is digitizing the space by having an App that allows investors, art collectors and artists to have visibility, flexibility and secure access to buy and sell artworks. 

“The community of collectors benefit from the flexibility of either co-ownership or full ownership, with opportunities for physical custodianship of these artworks for a period, enabling them to enjoy art that they love! It does not end there! ARTSPLIT also provides opportunities for owners of investment-grade African art to list their works, and have them evaluated and sold to members of the community.

ARTSPLIT, the pioneering art trading platform for investment-grade African artworks is set to launch officially in 3 of its key operating regions across Africa. Mainly, South Africa, Nigeria and Ghana. The App allows art lovers to trade their splits of prestigious African artworks in real-time. There is an option for corporate brands with a Pan-African and Diaspora footprint to lease artwork for their office and business premises,” say those behind this new art marketing platform.

The platform already has a growing list of great art works from the African since it launched in Nigeria, Ghana and now in South Africa, launching on the side lines of FNB Art Joburg activations currently taking place around Johannesburg under the banner of Open City, leading to the official start of the art fair on September 1, 2022 at Sandton Convention Centre.

The two dynamic women behind this platform Lungi Morrison and Onyinye Anyaegbu are an interesting partnership.

Lungi Morrison is the local partner in South Africa and hilds the position of Director of partnerships and alliance ARTSPLIT SA

 Lungi Morrison is a Pan-African curator, art advisor and creative director. She is also a brand communications strategist and practitioner. Her depth of professional experience amassed over two decades spans both private and public sectors. During the Apartheid years, she was raised between Nigeria, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and New Zealand. In her adult life, she has lived, studied and worked in various global markets and communities. Passionate about the zeitgeist that is Africa’s creative economy, Lungi formally immersed herself in the Continents burgeoning art sector in 2016 working with; galleries, artists, curators and collectors.

CExecutive Director ARTSPLIT, is Nigerian born but London based.

Onyinye is an innovative business leader with over 10 years of global experience in Human Resource Management, Product Development, and Business Development. Onyinye began her career as a Learning and Development Advisor with Brandhouse Beverages (Pty) Limited, she moved to join Diageo Plc as a Talent & OE Specialist/HR Business Partner after which she eventually stayed sturdy as the Human Resource Business Partner for Diage’s Travel Retail.

Onyinye left Diageo Plc to join GSK London as a Senior HR Business Partner in Research and Development working with several business units. Onyinye is currently the Executive Director of Operations and Technology at ARTSPLIT Limited. She holds a B.A. in History and International Studies from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and an Advanced Diploma in HR Management from the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development.

So far the platform is increasing to attract artists ever since it was launched in Nigeria nd Ghana in April this year, and in South Africa it is also gaining traction with both collectors and artists.

Essentially ARTSPLIT is an art trading technology company driven by one common goal, enhancing the investment status of African art by allowing users to co-own rare and valuable artworks on a platform that guarantees price discovery and market liquidity.   

Currently in South AfricaARTSPLIT is showcasing three women who are incredibly talented when it comes to Arts, Olwethu De Vos is a South African contemporary multidisciplinary visual artist and curator.  De Vos further co- ordinates and facilitates workshops and programmes within the arts sector and has participated in practical and research seminars.

Phumzile Buthelezi was born in Soweto and fell in love with arts at an early age, were she won a drawing competition in primary school and she furthered her art education at Artist Proof Studio were she completed her qualification in Advanced Printmaking. She accomplished her Mosaic projects such as Coloring books and Boogertman Architects. 

Yonela Makoba was born and raised in the Eastern Cape, eMthatha. She did Environmental and Geographic Science and after completing it she ventured into arts. She’s now a multidisciplinary artist. “My recent prints come out of my experience of being in the Hogsback area. “Thula thul thula baba, thula sana.” are the words of a lullaby sung to a crying child, telling them to stop crying as their mother is on the way and that all will be well. I think of lullabies as remedies for broken hearts and I employ the energy of lullabies as I meditate on the deaths that have occurred in this region. Acknowledging the need for mourning, for tears following and for the lullaby to echo and soothe the aching heart” said Yonela Mokoba 

These three leading women are showcasing their artworks at Keyes Art Miles and will be having an amazing panel discussion on the 3rd of September 2022 with the Topic: Tech & Leapfrogging investment in contemporary Africa Art.