Latitudes: A Shared Vision for African Art

by Roberta Coci and Lucy MacGarry

L–R: Lucy MacGarry, Nelson Makamo, and Roberta Coci at the RMB Latitudes Art Fair 2024.

As old friends, we’ve always had a lot in common. But one thing that has always stood out is our shared love of art and our conviction that more people should have access to the extraordinary work being made across Africa.

Working in the art world, we could see the incredible talent around us. We could also see how difficult it could be for artists to reach buyers, for galleries to grow their audiences, and for people interested in acquiring art to know where to begin. We wanted to help close those gaps.

RMB Latitudes Art Fair 2026. Photography by Anthea Pokroy.

Our friendship and shared vision gave us the foundation for an idea, while our different strengths helped shape what came next. Between us, we brought creative and curatorial experience, a natural affinity for collaboration and partnerships, and a strong focus on strategy, consistency and building a sustainable business. Together, we began shaping a platform that could connect artists, galleries and collectors across borders.

We launched Latitudes Online in 2020. At a time when people were confined to their homes, the website made it possible to discover and buy art from wherever you were, bringing work from different places into one shared space. It remains at the heart of what we do.

As Latitudes grew, we began to see more gaps we could help fill and opportunities we wanted to explore. Our work expanded beyond the online platform, shaped by what artists, galleries and collectors told us they needed.

Dada Khanyisa at RMB Latitudes Art Fair 2026. Photography by Anthea Pokroy.

Today, RMB Latitudes Art Fair brings artists, galleries and audiences together at Shepstone Gardens in Johannesburg. The Latitudes Centre for the Arts (LCA) extends that opportunity throughout the year, with exhibitions that give audiences more occasions to discover artists and experience their work in person.

Our ongoing programmes support different parts of the art community: CuratorLab creates opportunities for emerging curators and the artists in their networks; the ANNA Award recognises women artists; the Artist Materials Fund helps artists make new work; and the Collectors Circle offers our growing community of collectors opportunities to spend time with art and the people behind it.

Visitors at RMB Latitudes Art Fair 2026. Photography by Anthea Pokroy.

We’ve also created opportunities for artists through collaborations with brands such as Gucci, Diesel and Rain. These partnerships bring art into campaigns and new contexts, helping artists reach wider audiences and earn income beyond the sale of their work.

That thinking extends to the spaces we live and work in. We source and commission art for residential interiors, hotels, property developments and corporate collections, from individual artworks to murals and large-scale projects. It’s another way to connect artists with clients and bring their work into everyday life.

INDEX booth at RMB Latitudes Art Fair 2026. Photography by Anthea Pokroy.

Each part of Latitudes has grown from a practical question: what would help someone take their next step? Sometimes that means finding a buyer. Sometimes it means materials, mentorship, an introduction or a place to show their work. Together, our marketplace, Fair, Centre for the Arts, programmes and projects create more ways for artists to build their careers and for people to engage with African art.

Building Latitudes has stretched us both. We’ve had to learn how to grow a business, build a team and make ambitious ideas work with the resources available. We’re fortunate to have colleagues and partners who bring their own expertise and imagination to that work.

ESSAY booth at RMB Latitudes Art Fair 2026. Photography by Anthea Pokroy.

What started between two friends now belongs to a much wider community. Artists, galleries, collectors, visitors and supporters have all helped shape what Latitudes has become.

There’s still so much we want to do. Our purpose remains clear: to make African art easier to discover and collect, and to create more opportunities for the people who make it.