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Fiyin Koko, Dream Catcher, 2023, Mixed media, 48 x 36 inches
FIYIN KOKO: WATER ME
10 DEC - 7 JAN 2024
Navigating surrealism and reality, dreams and memories, Water me intertwines personal narratives of evolution, womanhood, connection and spirituality. It gently ushers the viewer into the artist's world, while creating a safe haven for our own emotional travel. Table of contents, the first piece encountered by the viewer; serves as a prologue, setting the stage for the ephemeral journey that unfolds. It is also evidence of the thoughtfulness and care with which Fiyin Koko guides us through the sacred realm of her mind. She steadies us for the journey, holds our hand and never lets go.
In the majority of the painting & digital works, the fluid & entrancing brushstrokes, support the artist’s the real world building. The subjects hold the viewer's gaze, stimulating connection and shared emotion...
Chigozie Obi, Girls Night 2024, Oil and Acrylic on canvas, 42 x 54 inches
Chigozie Obi: In Stillness of Being
26 OCT - 23 NOV 2024
Yenwa is delighted to present In Stillness of Being, the second solo exhibition by Nigerian artist Chigozie Obi. Building on the success of her debut at ART X Lagos in 2022, Obi presents a new body of work consisting of 15 paintings accompanied by an immersive audio-visual installation. Through intimate depictions of Black women in moments of solitude and togetherness, Obi interrogates the nuances of rest, care, and resilience. This series is deeply rooted in personal narrative, particularly the loss of her mother, which sparked a reflective inquiry into the absence of photographic documentation and the urgency of preserving lived experiences through artistic practice.
In Stillness of Being offers a poignant ...
Laju Sholola, A toast to the moment, 2024, 30 x 40 x 1 in |76.2 x 101.6 x 2.5 cm
LAJU sholola: BE HERE NOW
9 JUN - 23 JUN 2024
Laju Sholola's works capture the tender, candid emotions that shape our identities and growth. Through her minimalist lens, Sholola conveys these feelings in an abstracted figurative style; using a unique technique of layering tea-infused brush strokes, she intricately highlights the contrast between what is visible and what is concealed.
Her works, rendered in subdued monochrome tones and featuring serene subjects, invite viewers into a realm of calm and reflection. The figures, often portrayed in undergarments, nightwear, or swimwear, evoke a sense of vulnerability and introspection. Their averted gazes and closed eyes draw us into their private worlds, encouraging us to pause and reect. In the quiet presence of Sholola's art, our own thoughts become applied, prompting a deeper engagement with the emotions and narratives her pieces...
Ozangeobuoma Prince Orlu, Moment of peace I, 2024, 36 x 36 inches, Oil on canvas
Ómúmù
9 MAR - 24 MAR 2024
Yenwa Gallery proudly presents Ómúmù, a duo exhibition that weaves the distinct narratives of artists Djakou Kassi Nathalie & Ozangeobuoma Prince Orlu into a cohesive exploration of fertility and the essence of womanhood. At the heart of Ómúmù lies a profound reflection on the creative and generative powers of women, underscored by the artists' shared focus on the body's expressiveness and inherent beauty. Prince's acrylic paintings serves as a homage to the female form, specially celebrating the full-bodied figure in various states of repose and dynamism. His work, inspired by the emotional and physical journey of pregnancy, encapsulates the mixed reality of...
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Joshua Nmesirionye, Form of a lady, 2023, 48 x 14 inches, Stained almond wood.
JOSHUA NMESIRIONYE: SYMPHONY
17 SEP - 29 SEP 2023
Yenwa Gallery is pleased to present 'Symphony,' a debut Solo Exhibition by multidisciplinary artist, Joshua Nmesirionye. Nmesirionye's creative wellspring draws from the manifold sources of people, the environment, and the boundless realms of imagination. This multifaceted approach imparts a profound richness to his artwork, creating a dynamic fusion of influences that beckons viewers into an immersive world of reflection and contemplation.
In this body of work, Joshua Nmesirionye`s paintings masterfully conveys a sense of movement that is both mesmerizing and evocative. The brushstrokes seem to dance across the canvas, creating a dynamic interplay of forms and colors that hint at the transient nature of existence. The subdued tones he employs lend
Sisi Eko I 20 x 30 inches Photography on Paper 2019
LAILA CADNE: BEAUTY IN ITS TIME
30 APR - 11 JUN 2023
Yenwa is pleased to present a debut solo exhibition of photography works and documentary by multidisciplinary artist Laila Cadne Rahman. Entitled, Beauty In Its Time, this exhibition is a celebration of the artist's strengths as a make up artist, product photographer and storyteller, as well as the history and journey of Nigerian women's beauty. Laila integrates specific references from her own life in her work, whilst also drawing from our collective memory...
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Anthony Azekwoh, Soulja, 2024
ANTHONY AZEKWOH: THERE IS A COUNTRY
3 OCT - 3 NOV 2023
Work on this series began on October 20, 2020, precisely coinciding with the unfortunate events of the Lekki Shooting. I live a mere five minutes away from the tollgate where the Nigerian government dispatched armed soldiers to kill peaceful protesters. The government denies the shootings; I–and everyone who heard the gunshots echo in the air for seven hours–know otherwise. I held my younger brother tightly that night, fearful that a stray bullet might pierce our window and hurt him. This is the grim reality our country has devolved into: a land of fear.
I had never heard gunshots before....
inner space installation 2023
INNER SPACE
30 APR - 11 JUN 2023
Its my pleasure to welcome you to Yenwa, another stop on what has been a fulfilling journey that is consistently been affirmed by God my family and friends.
Yenwa a part of my middle name is translated as "Give Life", a prayer for us and for all who share space with us. As a curator and art practitioner focused on Africa and Black stories, it is important for me to play a part in the restoration, dissemination and preservation. Launching the gallery is both a call to exist in bold font and to use my passion and capacity to fill identified gaps.
Yenwa Gallery exhibits the best in contemporary painting and scupture across Africa and its diasporas with a special focus on African photography and new media. It features a library...