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
19 Oct Bruce Onobrakpeya Exhibition
Onobrakpeya is arguably, Africa’s most significant living artist and it is our pleasure to present these rare deep etching artworks. The artworks present his journey over two decades from 1960 to 1977. They also present our cultural evolution in that time and his role in shaping this evolution. We hope you can join us for
19 Sep Different Expressions
‘Hairdo’ by Sam Ovraiti and ‘Beloved’ by Maxwell Boadi Two very different styles.One is so gentle it eases your soul. Ovraiti, a master of the subtle gesture, creates a painting that melds the women and their background, creating a rich, mellow interaction. Boadi’s Father figure is aggressive and bold dominating the picture with his desire.
14 Jul Ablade Glover. The scholarship to the UK. 1964
Excerpt from ‘Crowds & Queens – The Art of Ablade Glover’ by Dozie Igweze Shirley Du Bois Shirley Du Bois was, at the time, one of the most influential people in Ghana. She was the head of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, a close confidante of Kwame Nkrumah and the wife of the African American activist,
25 Mar Fresh – Gani Odutokun
Gani Odutokun worked and exhibited, mainly, in the eighties and early nineties. He studied art at Ahmadu Bello University and went on to lecture there. He was at the forefront of a new generation of post-independence artists. He was intellectual, bold and curious – rooted in a philosophical approach, while constantly evolving. His artworks were
16 Mar Justus Kyalo – Dance and Emotion
Justus Kyalo is Kenyan. He lives and works in Nairobi. Living in Kenya and being Kenyan locates his work and contextualizes it, at least, in a historical sense. But not really. Kyalo in his artistic expression does not see himself as Kenyan, or African. He is simply human – of the world. And an artist.
06 Mar Art we Love number 1. Two women, Two boys and a father
Ben Osawe created this charcoal drawing in 1965 while still in England. This is one of a fairly large body of model drawings he did at the time. It’s created in a formal style of figurative portraiture. It’s easy to see his facility with the charcoal medium, his self-assurance and the elegance that would become
21 Feb Spirits in Flight – The Art of Peter Elungat
‘Every artwork is a story about the artist’, Elungat tells me. ‘In every artwork the artist puts himself naked on a podium for viewers to inspect’. This may not be true for all artists, but it is certainly true for Elungat. We’re looking at an early artwork of his. In the painting, a bird soars
22 Dec 5 Things About ”The Passage Of Time” Exhibition
No. 5 Words We did a book on Professor Glover. He loved it. The idea was to have a book that presents his art and his life; a book that gives artists, collectors – everyone really – an insight into the events that shaped the artist. The exhibition ended on the 19th of December, 2022.
15 Dec 5 Things About ”The Passage Of Time” Exhibition
No. 4. Interactions. Exhibitions are great for talking to the artist and talking to friends. We learn a little more about the artist and his art; and we enjoy great company. The exhibition continues till the 19th of December, 2022.