06 Sep Capturing Time: Tony Enebeli’s Conversation
Artists like Tony Enebeli attempt something almost impossible: to capture time. Not time as a date or a historical event, but that quiet movement through which one way of life gradually becomes another. The change is often so gentle that we barely notice it happening. Markets become supermarkets. Communal weddings become destination weddings. Traditions shift,
17 Aug In Praise of Praise Names: A Father’s Legacy in Symbols
Bruce Onobrakpeya’s 1984 work, Aro Ogua Orise—translated from Urhobo as “The Court of Orise,” Orise being his great-grandfather- was created as an experimental frieze study honoring family lineage. The composition uses human figures, animals, and symbolic objects to express Odovan, the praise names and philosophies that guide Urhobo life. By turning these spoken proverbs into
10 Jul Encounter with Three Ghosts by Bruce Onobrakpeya
Bruce Onobrakpeya’s artistic practice has long extended beyond personal memory and cultural history to embrace the rich world of African literature. Throughout his career, he has collaborated with and drawn inspiration from celebrated Nigerian writers, translating their stories into powerful visual narratives while infusing them with his own artistic imagination and cultural experience. Encounter with
15 Jun Myths, Structures, and Freedom
“Idimarah” by Bruce Onobrakpeya Bruce Onobrakpeya’s art has often drawn from the myths, structures, and ideas of his youth to express simple truths about life, while also preserving the histories and cultural memory of a people. In “Idimarah”, Onobrakpeya reflects on both life’s truisms and the social order of the world he grew up in.
02 Jun From Heritage to Experimentation: The Evolution of African Art
For years, African art was often expected to remain tied to traditional styles and cultural symbols. While those roots still matter, contemporary African artists are now exploring far beyond them. Through abstraction, mixed media, bold textures, photography, and experimental forms, artists are creating works that feel more personal, expressive, and connected to modern life. The
21 May Seeing Beyond the Canvas: How to Truly Experience Art
“Most people look at art, but very few truly see it.”- Duke Asidere In a conversation with Duke Asidere, a simple but powerful idea emerges: seeing requires more than a glance. It requires patience, attention, and intention. What’s the Difference Between Looking and Seeing? Looking is immediate. It captures the obvious: the colours, shapes, and subject. Seeing goes
03 Apr Modern Masters You May Not Have Heard Of: Justus Akeredolu
Justus Akeredolu (1915–1984) carved a quiet but powerful legacy in Nigerian art, bridging both the pre- and post-independence eras. In his hometown of Owo, a simple search for materials led him to experiment with the thorns of the silk-cotton tree, transforming them into intricate carvings. What began as a practical solution soon became his signature
19 Mar How Professional Framing Shapes the Viewers’ Experience
Ever wonder why some art looks like a masterpiece before you even read the caption? Professional framing acts as a silent “vibe check,” creating a clear boundary between the busy world and the artist’s vision. It is a visual editor that tells your brain exactly where to focus, setting the mood for the entire viewing
26 Feb Bruce Onobrakpeya – Have You Heard II, 2010
Have You Heard (first conceived in 1970 and revisited in 2010) is a poignant reflection on the aftermath of the Nigerian Civil War. Created in the immediate shadow of war, the work shifts the focus away from the battlefield and toward its human margins. Three women gather in animated conversation, their interaction giving the piece
13 Feb What was “modern” in the 1970s?
In ‘Modern Man’, created in the seventies, Oyelami presents a young man in a tie, serious, composed, slightly officious. He stands as the embodiment of the emerging Nigerian corporate class: educated, ambitious, ready to stand shoulder to shoulder with professionals anywhere in the world. It’s not just a portrait, it’s a quiet, almost humorous observation
09 Feb Maxwell Boadi: A Return to Colour, Movement, and Voice
Maxwell Boadi’s new works feel like a homecoming. After a period marked by restraint, quiet surfaces, flattened spaces, and deliberate stillness, Boadi returns to the canvas with renewed energy and conviction. Colour surges back into his practice. Movement re-emerges. Layers build upon layers, reasserting the physical pleasure of paint and the emotional force of gesture.
28 Jan A story told. A legend preserved. An artwork born.
In 1942, in Agbarha-Otor, a master storyteller named Aminogbe sat before a circle of children and performed the epic tale of Eraguamire, the brave warrior and his seven magical dogs on a perilous hunt for the fearsome monster, Kalumudo. His performance was electric. Dancing, prancing, embodying every clash and triumph, Aminogbe drew the children so
23 Jan B’anu: Beauty and Nostalgia
For many artists, their most enduring works are born from people they love or admire. B’anu, the elegant bronze sculpture by Abayomi Barber, is one such work, intimate, reflective, and rooted in affection. In the 1960s, Barber was living in the United Kingdom, based in London, while his friend B’anu had settled in Manchester. During
16 Jan “The Queen Is a Dictator” — Duke Asidere
Much of Duke Asidere’s practice is rooted in an enduring exploration of feminine strength, shaped by the presence of a formidable mother who instilled in him a deep respect for the power of womanhood. This influence recurs throughout his work, and The Queen Is a Dictator stands as a distilled expression of that theme. Here,
19 Dec “Letter Z”, Muraina Oyelami
Letter Z (1967) is Muraina Oyelami’s interpretation of the biblical story of Jonah, rendered through the symbolic language and intuitive abstraction that defined the early Osogbo movement. At the centre of the composition lies a pale, elongated body — Jonah himself, stretched across a table-like surface. Hovering above and looking on is another figure, also
08 Dec When We Were Young — and Free
In the early 1990s, Alex Nwokolo created a series of breezy sailboat paintings that felt like postcards from a gentler Lagos. Tiny boats drifted across calm waters under bright, sun-washed skies. The works were celebrations of easy living — enjoyment, leisure, a carefree rhythm that defined a beautiful, uncomplicated time. They were joyful canvases filled
06 Nov On display at the gallery – Ablade Glover & Duke Asidere N0v 4 – 12, 2025
This presentation brings together two master colourists of African modern and contemporary art — Ablade Glover of Ghana and Duke Asidere of Nigeria — in an exploration of how colour becomes a language of emotion, intellect, and spirit. Both artists, though separated by geography and generation, have forged visual vocabularies that pulse with energy, texture,
15 Oct Free Artwork Valuation Week at Hourglass Gallery
Ever wondered if that old artwork hanging in your home might be a hidden masterpiece? You just might be right! From Monday, 20th to Wednesday, 29th October, Hourglass Gallery is offering free artwork valuations for select pieces. To participate: Send us a clear image of your artwork, along with details such as artist (if known),
01 Oct A tribute to Osogbo
Tribute to Osogbo is our ‘On Display’ presentation from the 1st to the 8th of October — a focused display featuring artworks by the pioneering artists of the Osogbo School, shown in our Upper Room for one week only. Our ‘On Display’ series offers occasional, curated presentations drawn from the Hourglass collection — intimate showings
19 Sep Home is where the heart is
Home, as the saying goes, is where the heart is. This oil onboard painting by Jimoh Akolo pays homage to Samaru Village, the site of Ahmadu Bello University’s main campus, where the artist studied in the late 1950s. For Akolo, Samaru was more than a setting — it was a place of inspiration and belonging.