Lagos, the center of excellence, is about to experience an explosion of creativity and colour as the Lagos Street Art Festival (LSAF) 2025 returns, a platform created by artists, for artists, to celebrate expression, community, and identity through public art.
With the theme “Legendary Lagos: City of dreams,” the festival goes beyond beautification to showcase the true spirit of Lagos, bold, dynamic, and unafraid to create. This year’s edition celebrates the collective power of artists reclaiming public spaces, turning city walls, walkways, and corners into canvases of pride, storytelling, and connection.
Led by Osa Okunkpolor, simply known as Osa Seven – Renowned Visual Artist, and Co-Founder of Inscribe Art, and Akinlabi Akinbulumo, popularly known as Phisha, two of Nigeria’s most respected creative voices, the festival gives emerging and established artists an opportunity to express themselves freely and legally in ways that inspire and unite. It represents a movement where creativity meets purpose, where the city becomes both muse and gallery.
Karishma Daryani-Chugani, a member of the Lagos Street Art Festival Founding Council, described the festival as a place where “we are creating a platform for non-traditional artists, a festival that allows them to showcase their work publicly and professionally, right on the streets.”
For Osa Seven, the festival represents more than beautification; it is a movement of pride and possibility. “It’s about empowering people because even if their art isn’t in a gallery, they still deserve the chance to showcase their work,” he explains.
Adaora Mbelu, a founding Council Member of Lagos Street Art Festival, said the plan for the festival is to make street art a global event, empowering creatives to learn the process through the workshops and showcase their talent to the world.”
Oluwatomi Ikenye, marketing partner, Berger Paints, said that art is not a luxury, but involves education, mental health, community and identity.
According to him, being part of an art festival essentially aligns with the company’s ideas, which are innovation, creativity, and community transformation.
“Internally, we have looked at this and seen that this is something we want to be part of because, as a brand, we have contributed to the architectural and cultural transformation of Nigeria. So it is only natural for us to be part of this cultural movement,” Ikenye said.
On his part, Fatiu Akiolu, managing director of LASAA, said that the role of the agency is to regulate and enhance the city’s visual environment.
“Partnering with the festival aligns perfectly with our mission to ensure that Lagos State remain aesthetically appealing, orderly and culturally dynamic,” he said.
The journey begins with “Story Walls” on November 25th and 27th across the Lagos Mainland, where artists will collaborate on large-scale murals that reflect the city’s diversity, resilience, and shared dreams. These murals serve as storytelling landmarks, visual narratives of Lagosian identity told in bold colour and design.
From December 4th to 10th, the festival enters its most dynamic phase, Public Art Painting, a collaborative citywide transformation from Surulere to Lekki, Ikeja to Yaba. Artists will take over streets, schools, and open spaces, reimagining the urban landscape through collective artistry.
Capacity building remains a central focus of LSAF. On Wednesday, December 10th, the British Council will host two specially curated workshops designed to help creatives develop both artistic and strategic skills:
Design Thinking is an innovation-focused session that teaches artists to approach creativity as a tool for problem-solving; Brand Storytelling is a hands-on exploration of how artists can craft authentic personal and brand narratives that resonate across audiences.
These workshops will host a hundred participants, ensuring intimate, high-impact sessions where learning meets collaboration.
On Thursday, December 11th, the spotlight shifts to Fireside Chats and Artist Talks at Bature, featuring eight distinguished panellists across two sessions. These interactive conversations will explore Lagos’ growing creative economy, the power of public art, and how young artists can navigate their paths in an ever-evolving industry.
To round off the festivities, the Pop-Up Event on Saturday, December 13th, also at Bature, will bring together art lovers, creators, and community members for a day of live art, music, and creative exchange. Alongside it, the OSA 7 x 10 Exhibition, running from December 12th to 15th (Upstairs at Bature), will showcase ten works that celebrate the evolution of Osa Seven’s artistry and his decade-long contribution to Nigerian street culture.
At its heart, LSAF 2025 is about providing a platform for artists. It is where Lagos’ creative energy finds its voice, a space where upcoming talents can be seen, heard, and celebrated. Through murals, installations, and live projects, artists will transform everyday environments into vibrant landmarks that reflect the pulse of Lagos life.
The festival was born from a deep belief in the power of art to move people and transform spaces. It embodies the shared passion of creators who understand that art can build community, tell powerful stories, and drive social change. Every mural and installation created during the festival carries a story, one that connects the artist to the city and the people who live in it.
By turning the streets into an open-air gallery, the festival breaks down traditional barriers to artistic appreciation. Art leaves the confines of galleries and enters the neighborhoods, schools, and markets, where everyone can experience it. This is art that belongs to the people, created in their spaces, and inspired by their stories.
Beyond its visual appeal, the Lagos Street Art Festival fosters growth and collaboration. It encourages upcoming artists to learn, connect, and gain visibility both locally and globally. It also provides a unique platform for mentorship and capacity building, led by Inscribe Art and other key industry figures.
Powered by Inscribe Art and LASPARK, in partnership with Lagos Tourism, LASAA, Adidas, and Bature Brewery, and supported by Pim Pam, Mirus Events, Artzmaniang, Filmbydt, Q21 Solutions, Sketchar, Loatsad Promomedia, and Crea8torium, LSAF 2025 reflects a shared commitment to nurturing talent, beautifying public spaces, and positioning Lagos as a thriving hub for creative expression.
This year’s festival invites every artist, from the aspiring painter to the seasoned muralist, to take part in shaping the city’s visual identity. Together, they will turn Lagos into a living masterpiece, one wall at a time.
In the end, the Lagos Street Art Festival is a celebration of artists, their courage, their voices, and their ability to turn imagination into something the whole city can see, feel, and take pride in.
