Thursday, 6 February 2025

With Osinowo's 'Alhamdulillahi Goma-Goma', art goes gratitude

' Muhammad - Messenger of Mercy's (mixed media, 47X47, dated 2023) by ADK-Osinowo

ART of spiritual fruits takes over the creative space of Abuja as artist, Ridwan ADK-Osinowo opens his solo art exhibition of painting, mixed media and wood routing.

Expressionist strokes of Teda amidst contemporary tide

'Fathers Day Project' (spray paint, oil, acrylic and ink on canvas, 70X70 inches, dated 2022) by Oluwatobilola Fakile (Teda). PIC: c/o artist.

FROM the pool of traditional and contemporary art, Oluwatobiloba Fakile brings expressionist portraiture that examine mythology of self-assessment. The artist who is also known as Teda creates strokes that celebrate lines as basics lifeline in forms, though comes with challenge of sustaining a balance between modern and contemporary textures.

Wednesday, 29 January 2025

Thought Pyramid announces 20 finalists for 'Next of Kin', lists 6 criteria

Àbárá Mèjí (oil and acrylic on canvas, 30 x 40 inches, dated 2024) by Zainab Ajala Oluwadamilola. PIC: c/o Thought Pyramid Art Centre.

THE 20 finalists of Next of Kin (NOK) S7 art competition must get the attention of the jury, in quite a number of criteria to win. While announcing the 20 finalists, the organisers of NOK S7, Thought Pyramid Art Centre, Lagos, listed six criteria, accompanied with scores.

Friday, 10 January 2025

Meet new Alaafin of Oyo, Akeem Owoade


Born in 1974, Abimbola Akeem Owoade hails from the royal Owoade-Agunloye family of Oyo. The family is one of the surviving children of Pa Rasaki Ibiyosi Owoade. His lineage traces back to Aremo Aderounmu Iyanda Owoade from Agure Compound, Oyo, embedding him deeply in the cultural and historical fabric of the Oyo Kingdom.

Friday, 3 January 2025

Smithsonian to honour Onobrakpeya at 'The Mask and the Cross' closing ceremony

Dr Bruce Onobrakpeya.

THE renowned National Museum of African Art at the Smithsonian, U.S, is preparing to honour one of Africa’s greatest artistic icons, Prof. Bruce Onobrakpeya, in a grand closing ceremony for his groundbreaking exhibition, The Mask and the Cross.

Friday, 27 December 2024

How Win Arc's 'Art at Peace' showcased young artists

(L-R), One of the Art at Peace facilitator, Harry Ogada; Vice Chairman of Peace Estate, Alhaji Wasiu; Founder of Win Arc Centre, Archie Abia; and Engr Omojowo during the exhibition.

IT was a celebration of young artists' creativity as Peace Estate, Baruwa, Lagos State, had a feeling of art appreciation from Win Arc Centre's exhibition that marked the community's end of the year party.

Tuesday, 17 December 2024

'ArtMiabo 2025 to converge art, tech, commerce, investment'


Founder of AMIAF, Miabo Enyadike. File Pic: c/o AMIAF.

MARKETING, which is widely considered as the missing link in contemporary art appreciation space of artists in Africa, gets attention as ArtMiabo International Art Festival (AMIAF) heads for its 2025 edition. Ahead of the event, A-ARTs spoke with founder of AMIAF, Miabo Enyadike on the Artconomy: 2025: Redefining the Global Art Marketplace theme of the festival.

AMIAF holds in April 29-May 1, and April 30-May 2, 2025, at J.K. in Lagos, and FCT, Abuja, respectively.

Saturday, 23 November 2024

Portraits of stylish African women glows in Odetomi's splendid palettes

'Ajeyemisi' (mixed media on canvas, 144x144cm, dated 2023) by Abayomi Odetomi.

 By Ola Alowoloke 

GLORIFYING the powers of African women, especially in their youthful period attracts the palette of artist, Abayomi Odetomi. He creates radiant colours embedded with engaging aesthetics that make angelic imageries of the subjects. 

Saturday, 16 November 2024

Enwonwu's Elizabeth statue, others on display as 'Building A Nation...'

(L-R), Unnamed representative of auction house, Bonhams; Chairman of Coronation Group, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede; Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa; and D-G of NCMM, Olugbile Holloway during the opening of 'Building A Nation...' 

By Yemi Olakitan 

IT was all glitz and pageantry as the National Museum, Onikan, Lagos showcased an incredible exhibition, featuring Ben Enwonwu's 1956 masterpiece bronze sculpture of Queen Elizabeth II. The exhibition, which opened on Tuesday, November  12, 2024 also included other rare works of the late art genius.

Wednesday, 13 November 2024

Ori Olokun as visual narrative of cultural duality

By Tajudeen Sowole 
'Identity' (acrylic on canvas, 53 x 85cm, dated 2023) by Oluwafemi Omoboriowo.

OVER a century after the original Ife bronze, Ori Olokun, got missing in transit – from Ile-Ife, in Nigeria to wherever – artist, Oluwafemi Omoboriowo generates mixed cultural concept from the controversial artefact. Interestingly, the U.K, which played a part in the early years of the Ife head resurfaces in Omoboriowo's concept of cultural duality, using Ori-Olokun as the point of strange convergence.

Friday, 8 November 2024

Sogal auction's 'Roots' brings diversity of traditional, modern art

'Ikenga Mask' (wood & aluminium,
H76 x W25 x D25 cm, and dated 2017) by Okezie Okafor.

AS the preview for Sogal Art Auction 2024 is currently on going, with the theme Root, showcasing indigenous contents, the event focuses on African heritage and cultural roots, that bridges tradition and modernity. 

Thursday, 7 November 2024

Connecting contemporary, future art energies with Ini Brown's brushstrokes

By Tajudeen Sowole 

'Tender Bond' (acrylic on canvas, 48 x 36inches) by Ini Brown.

ACTIVELY or passively appreciating art comes with the beauty of continuous knowledge about artists and the trajectory of the region of practice.