25 Apr Gani Odutokun – On Display
As part of our ‘On Display’ series, we’re putting up a display of early drawings and paintings by Gani Odutokun in our upper room from tomorrow, April 26th to May 5th. If you’re around, we’d love for you to stop by and take a look.
19 Apr Ablade Glover – Headloads and Liberation
There are many elements in this artwork that are unmistakably Ablade Glover—and yet, it stands apart from much of his other work. The theme of market women is a prominent and recurring subject in Glover’s paintings. We also see women with babies strapped to their backs, a familiar motif across his body of work. But
07 Apr No Pain, No Gain – Osaghae’s world
Various elements come together in Ben Osaghae’s No Pain, No Gain 2, one of a series he created between 2012 and 2013. This body of work was a tribute to the hardworking people he observed around him — labourers, carpenters, builders — individuals engaged in manual work. Though the work was tough, Osaghae saw a
19 Mar Ben Osaghae and the banana
The period from 1993 to around 1997 was a significant phase in Ben Osaghae’s artistic evolution. During this time, he began lecturing at Auchi Polytechnic, and was fully immersed in its vibrant exploration of colour. This was arguably Osaghae’s most colourful period. In the years that followed, particularly in Lagos, his palette became more restrained—still
19 Feb Two Figures – Awolowo and Barber
Sometimes, an artist becomes inextricably linked with a public figure, and this connection endures even after their passing. Abayomi Barber worked in Oscar Nemon’s studio in the late 1960s. Nemon, a Croatian sculptor who had fled the Nazis and settled in London, was one of the preeminent sculptors of his time. He had created numerous
15 Feb Abayomi Barber On Display
We’ve created our ‘On Display’ series to give you a focused viewing experience. Each time, we’ll showcase a collection of works from a single artist in one of our upper rooms—for about a week. It’s a great opportunity to take in a curated selection of their work in an intimate setting. We’re kicking things off
06 Feb Abayomi Barber – The Real and the Surreal
The art of the surreal is fast disappearing, giving way to certainty, specificity, abstraction, and a more concrete form of storytelling. Yet, Abayomi Barber may well be Nigeria’s first—and perhaps truest—surrealist. Barber began his artistic journey sculpting and painting realistic figures, displaying an exceptional eye for detail from an early age. His transition to surrealism
15 Jan Kolade Oshinowo – Untamed energies
Part of the enduring legacy of Kolade Oshinowo’s art is his ability to translate the essence of Nigerian life onto canvas, capturing both the serene beauty of landscapes and the dynamic energy of urban streets. Oshinowo’s earth-toned depictions of Lagos and Western Nigerian streets evoke a sense of calm and grace, transforming the everyday into
13 Jan Jimoh Akolo’s Fulani Women
Fulani Women (1968) exemplifies Jimoh Akolo’s remarkable ability to capture mood and colour, showcasing his early artistic prowess while also reflecting his broader influence on Nigerian art and culture. Akolo was a pivotal member of the Zaria Art Society, a revolutionary group that shaped the evolution of modern Nigerian art. Studying at the Nigerian College
23 Oct Uzo Egonu’s everyday magic
Uzo Egonu’s Old Boots and Shoes (1974) is part of a series of etchings that capture everyday objects—boots, fruits, teapots, and etching presses—drawn from his daily life. With a keen eye for still life, Egonu juxtaposed these familiar items to create intriguing relationships, both with each other and their surroundings. While much of his work
19 Oct Once Upon a Time in Ibo-land
One of Egonu’s most celebrated series of etchings, Once Upon a Time in Ibo-land was created as a tribute to his Nigerian homeland, this series reflects his deep connection to the oral traditions of Igbo culture. Through the five etchings in this series, Egonu conjured up images from his childhood, reinterpreting the folk tales of
17 Oct The Artist – Uzo Egonu
Uzo Egonu (1931–1996) was a Nigerian artist born in Onitsha, Nigeria. In 1945, at the age of 13, he moved to the United Kingdom to pursue his education. He studied at the Camberwell School of Art in London, where he was influenced by both European modernism and his African heritage. Egonu traveled and exhibited extensively
09 Oct “A Beautiful Life” by Duke Asidere
“A Beautiful Life” combines charcoal and gouache, an offers an intimate glimpse into the artist’s thoughts and experiences. Evolving from his earlier kinetic and impatient sketches, this artwork retains Asidere’s signature energy but introduces a more nuanced exploration of people, events, and his surroundings. The female figure—a recurring motif in Asidere’s work—appears here with a
01 Oct ‘Ruling in equivocal terms’ By Ben Osaghae
‘Ruling in Equivocal Terms’ is one of Ben Osaghae’s early explorations into mixed media. Incorporating newsprint cutouts, the artwork reflects Osaghae’s shift towards using diverse materials to deepen the narrative complexity in his art. Known for his minimalist yet fluid application of colour, Osaghae maintains a restrained palette that guides the viewer’s focus towards the
22 Jul “Iya Agba” by Abiodun Olaku – The Beauty of Lines
The artwork “Iya Agba” was created on January 1, 2004, marking the artist’s first piece of that year. Driven by a resolution to return to the studio and be done with the holiday celebration, Abiodun Olaku embarked on this artwork in his Universal Studio space that day with a strong desire to create something unusual.
05 Jul Mystery and Protection
In this artwork from 1975, as with many of her artworks, Wenger blends Yoruba praise poetry (Oríkì) about gods like Osun and Obàtálá with the European mythology she was raised with, illustrating the tensions within her own blended cultural identity. Despite her deep integration into Yoruba religion and culture, she acknowledged that she remained an
16 Jun Happy Father’s Day
Artists, like everyone else, often venerate their mothers more than their fathers. However, there are still notable instances of father appreciation. Two artworks by Bruce Onobrakpeya come to mind. In the artwork “Obi Omonedo,” Onobrakpeya pays tribute to his father, Omonedo Onobrakpeya. During his lifetime, Omonedo Onobrakpeya was a palm farmer in Ekerevbu Town, just
20 Mar Constantly Restless- Bruce Onobrakpeya.
Bruce Onobrakpeya’s perpetual restlessness is evident in these rare totems. These sculptures embody his unyielding curiosity, profound insights, and talent for integrating ideas from different eras. The idea was originally conceived as representations within the etching, ‘Good governance,’ which employed an array of pre-colonial era sculptural totems to pay homage to the ideals of strength
21 Feb The Young women’s league by Ben Osaghae
This artwork has many elements of Osaghae’s style – movement, colour, figures existing at the margins of the artwork, minimalist strokes…His canvases rarely had superfluous elements. Every stroke contributed to the story. By the time this artwork was created in 1999, he was on a steady journey towards a more minimalist expression of his ideas.
07 Dec Muraina Oyelami
We have recently received a fascinating collection of Muraina Oyelami artworks from the late 60s and early 70s. These early artworks represent a crucial phase in his artistic journey, showcasing his masterful grasp of colour, nuance, and human emotion. Oyelami emerged as a key figure in the Oshogbo School of Art during the late 1960s