The Art of Nigerian Women previews at The Wheatbaker

The Wheatbaker Boutique Hotel on Wednesday, March 8, hosted a private collectors’ preview of The Art of Nigerian Women book and celebrated the opening of Standing Out II, an art exhibition featuring stunning works of 10 female artists of Nigerian descent.

Chaired by Ibukun Awosika, chairman, First Bank of Nigeria, and attended by the cream of Lagos art community who commended the exhibition and book.
The 360-page hardback book printed on silk paper, features the work of 75 leading and emerging contemporary visual artists –– some of Nigeria’s brightest. Complementing the artists’ works are scholarly essays, features and profiles of women who have influenced and helped shape the art industry in Nigeria.

Professor Dele Jegede, a notable art historian and Professor Emeritus of Miami University praised the book in his essay saying, “this is a pioneering work, one that deserves a prominent place on the shelves of corporate, institutional, college and personal libraries. Bosah deserves admiration for the courage and resources ploughed into this work.”

“The journey of researching, writing and publishing The Art of Nigerian Women has been a labour of love, which started in 2011,” explained US-based publisher Chukwuemeka Bosah, whose acclaimed work, 101 Nigerian Artists has become an important reference point for the international art community.

In line with the book’s focus, Standing Out II features 26 paintings, photographs, mixed media works and a stunning thread and ceramic installation created by Ngozi Ezema, Amami Isiuwe, Bunmi Oyesanya-Ayaoge, Data Oruwari, Marcellina Oseghale-Akpojotor, Olawunmi Banjo, Omo Udenta, Ozoz Sokoh, Sade Adebowale and Taiye Idahor.

“Standing Out II is our way of contributing to this year’s World Women’s Day with theme, #BeBoldForChange, by presenting the work of 10 leading and emerging female artists featured in Bosah’s new book,” said Mosun Ogunbanjo, Director of The Wheatbaker.

Standing Out II acknowledges how women continue to break through and overcome physical, psychological, emotional, professional and societal boundaries with unforgiving energy and elan. The paintings, mixed media and installation works express the artist’s thoughts on diversity and identity, spirituality, environment, culture and celebration, history and memory through unabashed creative experimentation.

“The Art of Nigerian Women is a testament to the awesome ‘rising tide’ of female artists in Nigeria, represented by Standing Out II,” commented Sandra Mbanefo Obiago of SMO Contemporary Art, the Wheatbaker’s long standing art curator.

“Chukwuemeka Bosah’s book celebrating female artists is a timely gift to Africa and the world,” said Chief Nike Okundaye, who has mentored generations of female artists and won international awards for her ground breaking work in teaching art to marginalised women in Nigeria and Europe.

“We are delighted that the powerful work of our female artists is being projected in this beautiful publication,” she said. The public launch of the book will take place today at Nike Art Gallery together with a-one week art exhibition curated by the Nigerian Federation of Female Artists.