With valuation lesson in Lagos, Sotheby's continues 'ghettoising' African artists

Hannah O'Leary, Director and Head of Modern and Contemporary African Art at Sotheby's.

Despite its rival, Christie's comment about 'ghettoising' African artists with dedicated art auction, Sotheby’s widens the potentials of art from the continent in the next few days. Sotheby's will be holding 'valuation days' in Lagos, Nigeria, ahead of the next auction of Modern and Contemporary African Art, which takes place in London on 16 October 2018.

According to a post on its website, director and head of Modern and Contemporary African art at Sotheby’s, Hannah O’Leary will be visiting Lagos 3-6 June. Her mission "is offering free and confidential auction valuations, strictly by appointment".

Coincidentally (?), Sotheby's three days valuation is holding

In one space, Omofemi, Tete-Katchan share 'Fair and Square''

'Reflection', (Afro Series) by  Oluwole Omofemi.

If you have no idea of the crucial spot of art in the vast world of aesthetics, Oluwole Omofemi and Samuel Tete-Katchan have a summary in the duality theme for their joint show.

While Omofemi, a Nigerian emphasises on human forms to explain dynamics of period and trend in cultural values, Tete-Katchan, a Togolese, implores geometric to expose his own world full of cubism. Through the funnel of this duality,  the artists distill their art exhibition

Art of 'Internal Conflicts Resolution' Through Adeshina's Canvas

Ademola Adeshina

When next policy makers need to do things differently in solving issues of co-existence, they need to see what Ademola Adeshina brings forth in his paintings.

Coming from textile design background, Adeshina implores quite some

Omolayo Gallery Celebrates with indigents on Children's Day

Running for over a decade, Omolayo Gallery's 'Young At Art', again, used the creative  environment to celebrate with the young ones yesterday as parts of Children's Day 2018 in Lagos.
 Specifically,  the gallery's sub-project 'Young At Art Children Creative Workshop' hosted the indigent persons of Lagos Island and its

'Masters'...When Mydrim Gallery merges modern, contemporary artists

A rescued painting titled 'Deliverance' (47. 5 x 35.5 inch, 2014 -2017) by Yusuf Grillo

As a recurring debate in the Nigerian visual culture space, the mastery of art need to expand its scope beyond the modern era, so suggests Mydrim Gallery's 'The Masters' exhibition.
It's a show for the mastery of art, its period and space in celebration context. And as contentious as the mastery of art is, some artists - based on their period of practice - have risen above such debate. 

When 'Masters' art exhibition took off at Templars

Artist, David Dale (seated) with Founder of Mydrim Gallery, Mrs Sinmidele Adesanya and Mr Bambo Adesanya SAN, during the private viewing of The Masters art exhibition at r, Lagos...on Thursday.

 Ahead of the public opening, 'The Masters' art exhibition took off with a private viewing on Thursday at Templars, a law firm in Lagos.

'What a masterpiece±!'

 

L-R, Mr Bambo Adesanya SAN, Mrs Sinmidele Adesanya, Mrs Nike Davies Okundaye and Mr Oghogho Akpata.

 The exhibition, organised by Mrs Sinmidele Adesanya-led Mydrim Gallery is scheduled for public showing from Sunday, June 3 - Monday, 2018 at Desiderata, Plot 5A, Abuja Str, Banana Island, Ikoyi, Lagos. Time: 10 a.m - 7 p.m.

Mrs Zaccheus and Mrs Johnson.

  Yusuf Grillo, Bruce Onobrakpeya, Abayomi Barber, David Dale, Kolade Oshinowo, El Anatsui, Muraina OyelamI, Nike Davies-Okundaye, Jimoh Buraimoh, Gani Odutokun, Bisi Fakeye and Jimoh Akolo are the artists of 'The Masters'.

 

Christie's says dedicating auction to African art 'ghettoising' artists

Veiled Sorrow (circa 2008), a charcoal on paper work by Njideka Akunyili Crosby, for Christie's Post-War to Present auction. PIC: c/o Christie's

 Including a mix of artists across generations and cultures in its upcoming 'Post-war to Present' sale, Christie's statement suggests that dedicating auction to African art is 'ghettoising' the artists.
 Christie's Head of post- war and contemporary art in Europe, Francis Outred told The Art  Newspaper's Anny Shaw that the London sale, scheduled for June 28 will feature works by Old masters such as Ben Enwonwu, William Copley and Willi Baumeister alongside emerging names Katharine Grosse,

Holder of Wewe's 'stolen' painting known, maintains silence

- Arthouse deletes controversial painting from auction lots

Picture of Tola Wewe's 'stolen' painting titled 'Ite Bowabo'.

Over one month after a missing Tola Wewe painting was discovered in Lagos, the alleged collector was yet to respond to how he got possession of the controversial 1989 work titled 'Iye Bowabo'.

The collector (names withheld for legal reason) who has been described as a prominent art patron and ex-husband to one of the former ministers

After over N2bn sales, 1,750 lots, Arthouse makes 10th year of auctions in Lagos

A mixed media titled 'Eru' ('Fear', 1998 Acrylic on canvas,78 x 58 in.), by Bruce Onobrakpeya (b.1932).

In its ten years of consistently adding commercial value to art from Africa, Arthouse makes 20th edition with artists across periods and generations. The auction house organises two sales yearly for its main auction, which hold in the second and last quarter of every year.

Looking into its records since 2008 when the auction house made history in Lagos, Arthouse boasted of being a pioneer auction house in West Africa. More importantly,

Onobrakpeya, Shonibare for Art X Lagos Prize Jury

A five-member jury comprising master printmaker, Dr Bruce Onobrakpeya, Yinka Shonibare MBE, Wura-Natasha Ogunji, Sokari Douglass Camp and President, Society of Nigerian artists, Oliver Enwonwu have been announced for Art X Lagos Prize 2018

In conjunction with Access Bank, ART X Lagos, which prides itself as West Africa’s foremost international

Int'l Museum Day 2018's 'Hyperconnected' lesson for Nigeria

National Museum, Onikan, Lagos.

As much as  museums are basically about preservation of the past for the good of today and the future, the dynamics of a world on a fast lane would not allow its management remain antiquated. Perhaps, the need to keep pace with the changing world of communication informed the International Council of Museums (ICOM)'s theme for 'International Museum Day 2018', which was observed world wide on Friday, May 18, 2018.

 Themed 'Hyperconnected museums: New approaches, new publics', this year's

Azu Nwagbogu takes over as curator at Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa in Cape Town

Zeitz Museum. Pic: Iwan Baan.

The Trustees of new Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa in Cape Town has
given reason for the suspension of Chief curator and executive director, Mark Coetzee. Azu Nwagbogu has been announced as a temporary replacement.

Contrary to some reports that Coetzee resigned ahead of inquiries,  the Trustees spokeswoman Tamra Capstick-Dale said he was suspended. “An inquiry into Mr Coetzee’s professional conduct has been

At $3.38m, Akunyili Crosby gets new auction record

A acrylic, village and colour pencil on paper titled 'Bush Babies' by Njideka Akunyili Crosby. 

Njideka Akunyili Crosby’s painting titled 'Bush Babies' sold for $3.38 million, has set a new auction record for the artist at the just held Sotheby's New York sale.

According to reports monitored on the auction, Sotheby's sold a total $392.3 million of art in New York, and set

From bonding to 'Triad', artists take off touring exhibition in Lagos

Olorunfemi Kinrin's 'Chinelo', 2018, Oil on Canvas, 31 x 22 in.

Suraj Adekola, Monsur Awotunde and Olorunfemi Kinrin have been together through schools and post-training career. The artists' bonding progreses with Triad, a touring group art exhibition, which takes off on Saturday, May 19, 2018, at Alexies Galleries, Victoria Island, Lagos. The exhibition, according to the gallery, is being proposed to continue in US and the UK at a later date to be announced.

Laying 'Foundation' with lines of future in Ohagwu's debut solo

From Uchenna Ohagwu, 'Ponder-2, oil on canvas, 36" x 36" (2013).

Whoever understands the language of lines has the key to the mastery of art. Uchenna Ohagwu is an artist whose skills with lines is on the journey of such mastery by embossing forms out of his canvas.

Ohagwu creates mosaic-like textures with lines by piercing through imageries of optical illusion full of

Akunyili Crosby's art join Women's world for London Underground exhibition.

Njideka Akuyili Crosby, 2016 © Brigitte Sire Courtesy the artist and Victoria Miro, London / Venice

A new work at Brixton station by Nigerian-born, Los Angeles–based artist, Njideka Akunyili Crosby is among installations and paintings commissioned for London’s public art program. Scheduled for next year and known as Art on the Underground, it commemorates the 100th anniversary of the U.K.’s “Representation of the People” Act, which granted voting rights to all men over 21 and women over 30 who owned a suitable amount of property.
 The installations by six celebrated women artists will decorate Tube stations and maps and even activate disused platforms, Next City Vanguard wrote in its latest edition.

Recall that  the program was announced last December but just taking off with an installation by

How Six Artists' Faces and Places Unearths Beauty From Nigerian Ugly Narratives

A painting titled Exodus by Seye Morakinyo.

A nation in the period of security and economic challenge has some other things to celebrate in the human and natural physical contents of the country through the paintings of six artists.
 Joseph Matthew Bidemi, Seye Morakinyo, Adedotun Fashina, Adeyemi Uthman, Oyelusi Olasunkanmi and Afeez Adetunji are the artists whose works unearth the beauty out of the much-celebrated ugly Nigerian  narratives. Under the title Faces and Places, the artists are currently showing their inspirational and paradigm shifter paintings, for

Pan-African leadership Award for Prince Shyllon

Prince Yemisi Shyllon (right), receiving the Pan-African Leadership Award, few days ago, in Lagos, from a team of Ghanaian, Togolese and other West Africans in

At 25, Mydrim Gallery shows 12 Masters

Founder of Mydrim Gallery, Mrs Sinmidele Adesanya during a press preview of The Masters exhibition today in Lagos.

Perhaps, the last art gallery standing in Nigeria - among others of old- Mydrim Gallery, Ikoyi, Lagos, rolls out the drums with 'The Masters' art exhibition.

 Showing from June 3 - 4, 2018 at Desiderata, Bannana Island, Ikoyi, Lagos, the exhibition features works of Jimoh Akolo,
El Anatsui, Abayomi Barber, Jimoh Buraimoh, David Dale, Nike Davies-Okundaye, Bisi Fakeye, Yusuf Grillo, Gani Odutokun,

Shonibare, others protest exclusion of creative subjects in new UK education system

Yinka Shonibare

Nigerian-British artist, Yinka Shonibare and over 100 others in the U.K, including Tracey Emin, Jeremy Deller, Lubaina Himid, Antony Gormley, Anish Kapoor, Rachel Whiteread and Grayson Perry, have written protest letter against what they noted as decline of art in state-owned schools.

The letter, according to The Guardian of UK was sent to the newspaper, alerting the country of how exclusion of creative subjects from the new education structure affects secondary school's arts knowledge.

 Text of the letter:
We are writing to express our grave concern about the exclusion of arts and creative subjects from the new English baccalaureate, or Ebacc, for secondary school children, which we believe will seriously damage the future of many young people in this country. There is compelling evidence that the study of creative subjects is in

Sympathy for leadership challenge in Okpu's 'Boundaries'

'Untitled', 2018, Mixed media, Triptych - 48 x 96 inches (Each Panel)
'Male Model' 2015 Oil on canvas 16 x 16 inches

Leadership and state of the nation are two factors that inspired artist, Norbert Okpu in suggesting collective participation at getting solution and not criticism, always.

 Okpu, who appears to have sympathy for leaders in the period of nationhood challenges shares his thoughts in Breaking Boundaries, a solo art exhibition opening on May 12, 2018 at Terra Kulture, Victoria Island, Lagos. Simply from the common notion of doing things differently to get new results, Okpu's visual narrative of Breaking Boundaries raises issues

'Black Lives Matter' returns as six-month-art installation on historic Island

'Black Dada (Black Lives Matter)' by Adam Pendleton during Venice Art Biennale 2015.

The memory of  teenager, Trayvon Martin, killed in 2012, Florida by blood thirsty, George Zimmerman won't go away so soon, at least on art space. After artist, Adam Pendleton, 34, adapted the Black Lives Matter slogan - generated from the senseless shooting - for his show at Venice Biennale 2015, he is not done yet.

 Currently, the theme continues its spiral effect as an installation at historic site for Frieze New York art fair. In fact, 'Black Dada Flag (Black Lives Matter)' flag by Pendleton being mounted on

On Heritage Day, UNESCO declares youths as Africa's strength

A UNESCO Heritage monumemt in Timbuktu, Mali,

In its third year  of celebrating African World Heritage Day, The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), has declared the 2018 edition in celebration of the continent's young people.
 The African World Heritage  Day was established three years ago to raise awareness about the immense potential of the continent's cultural and natural heritage. Also, the

Alliance Française de Lagos shows Izzyella’s debut photo exhibition

From Isabella Agbaje's 'Iridescentes/ Iridescent'

After two photography exhibitions that flagged off its new focus, Alliance Française Lagos  presents 'Iridescentes / Iridescent' by Isabella Agbaje, showing from Friday, May 11, -June 15, 2018 at its Herbert Macauley, Yaba, Lagos, centre.
 Early this year, Alliance Française Lagos decided to focus on photography, giving opportunity

Shonibare curates show of over 40 artists in London

Yinka Shonibare, MBE. Pic: c/o Stephen Friedman Gallery

Nigerian-British artist, Yinka Shonibare, MBE, may have taken off his plan to promote artists of African descent with his forthcoming art exhibition of over 40 artists. Recall that during Shonibare's last visit to Nigeria when his touring Wind  Sculpture VI

Hammer Museum announces Akunyili Crosby, Esparza as Artist Council members

Njideka Akunyili Crosby and Rafa Esparza. Photos: John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and Fabian Guerrero.
 

iYesterday, Hammer Museum announced Njideka Akunyili Crosby and Rafa Esparza to its Artist Council. The Hammer Museum offers exhibitions and collections that span classic to contemporary art, as well as programs that spark meaningful encounters with art and ideas.
 The museum, on its website states that the Artist Council was established in 2006, as a rotating advisory group of 10-15 internationally renowned, Los Angeles-based artists. The group meets regularly with Hammer curators and leadership to engage in extended conversations about specific programmatic issues at the Hammer as well

Ahead Venice Architecture Biennale, Putin's culture minister warns of 'Vigilance over anti-Russian rhetorics'

Vladimir Putin

The Venice Biennale as a global gathering of cultural expressions in art and architecture could be used as an extension of diplomatic row among the super power nations. And before the next Venice Architecture Biennale , holding from 26 May-25 November 2018,
 Russian Pavilion may be the target of the country's western enemies, a deputy culture minister Vladimir Aristarkhov had warned his country's contingent.
 The prolonged Syrian crisis and the issue of allegations that a spy and his daughter were poisoned by Russia may just extend to the Venice event. Specifically,

Germany's funding of provenance, a distraction on return of looted African artefacts

A Benin Bronze from the Ethnological Museum, Germany.

Whatever the good intention of Germany's newly announced funding of provenance for its non-European art collection, silence on  restitution is not golden. 

 A statement credited to German Lost Art Foundation said it will oversee government grants to museums for provenance research into artefacts

Bako's Art of Crucifix Creates Positive Family Tradition

'The Lord's Supper' by Bankole Bako.

During Bankole Bako's solo art exhibition titled 'Silhouette of Words' at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, it was crystal clear that the self-taught artist does not belong in othe status quo of art stereotype. His works stand away from the parochialism of any established art forms.
 In fact, Bako is not bound by the climate of fear for lack of patronage and survival. With his art, he does not see such fear as an issue; from the onset, making almost two decades, he has been working more on experimental art, not minding the saleability