The Sanctuary of Dreams
O1 NOV - 29 DEC 2025
Yenwa Gallery announces the Nigerian premiere, and first African presentation, of The Sanctuary of Dreams, a landmark installation by Cameroonian‑French conceptual artist Pierre‑Christophe Gam.
Making its first presentation on the African continent, The Sanctuary of Dreams is a multi‑sensory temple of imagination. Large‑scale photographs, intricate hand‑drawings, a hand‑woven tapestry, and digital interventions in film, VR, and AR form a layered environment where ancestral mythologies and speculative technologies meet—turning imagination into method, ritual, and liberation.
For Nigeria, this debut is resonant. Presented in Lagos, where Yoruba/Ifá cosmologies, contemporary spirituality, and.
Pierre‑Christophe Gam, Yeku-Meji, 2023, photo collage on archival paper
Ehinomen Okoeki, Tourist of Myself 3, 2025, Mixed media on canvas, 48 × 36 inches
The Line / Between Us
13 SEP - 04 OCT 2025
Yenwa Gallery is pleased to announce The Line / Between Us, a debut solo exhibition by Nigerian artist Ehinomen Okoeki, running from Saturday,13 September, 2025 to Saturday, the 4th of October, 2025 at Yenwa Gallery, Lagos.
The exhibition examines the social and emotional effects of Nigeria’s ongoing migration wave, widely known as the Japa Syndrome. While public discussion often frames migration in political or economic terms, Okoeki shifts the focus to its personal impact: the absence within families, friendships strained by distance, and the invisible lines drawn between loved ones across borders.
Drawing on his own experience of having relatives dispersed across continents, Okoeki uses his signature collage and mixed media practice to explore these realities. His process involves digitally manipulating and then deconstructing images into
BLOODLINE
25 JUL - 26 AUG 2025
Nigerian artist, Ighiwiyisi Jacobs, presents Bloodlines, a new solo exhibition on the 27th of July, 2025. Through a series of introspective works, Jacobs tackles the cosmologies of memory, time and ancestral presence. The paintings, rendered mostly in indigo - a colour derived from nature and used to draw lines and symbols for adornment and communication in Africa, invites solemn contemplation. They guide the viewer on a journey through past lives, present realities, and future dreams.
Jacobs’ works tackle the belief that humans are products of the people that came before them, and creators of subsequent descendants. This creates an unbreakable chain through which life, knowledge, strength, courage and wealth pass, from one generation to the next. “… Coursing through your vein is incalculable wealth,” says Jacobs, “An unbroken line of survival that produced you and...
Ighiwiyisi Jacobs, Now, 2024, Oil on board, 24" X 48"
Paolo Sisiano, Little Lies, 2024, Acrylic on Canvas, 30x40 inches
LOST/LUST
13 JUN - 5 JUL 2025
Lost/Lust unfolds across two levels, each offering a distinct register of the emotional terrain Paolo Sisiano continues to explore.
On the lower level, the works move with a quieter pull. Figures shift, search, and drift apart. Glances do not meet. Gestures hover, holding longing in the space between presence and absence. Beneath the softness, the ache remains…unresolved.
Above, the mood gathers weight. Colors deepen, gestures grow bolder. Figures lean closer, nearly merging. Desire folds into proximity and heat, yet the restlessness persists.
Threaded through both spaces is a quiet reckoning with selfhood. The works suggest...
BETWEEN FRAGRANCE
28 MAR - 26 APR 2025
Yenwa is pleased to present "Between Fragments", a group exhibition, as part of our participation in the second edition of Lagos Gallery Weekend.
"Between Fragments" unites the works of Kitan Ayanda (b. 1997), Osaji Chinedu George (b. 1998), Chinezim Moghalu (b. 1992), and Adeniyi Olarenwaju (b. 1996) in an exploration of distorted perception and reconstructed realities. Through fractured figures, shattered perspectives, and disrupted visual fields, these artists create works where meaning resides in both presence and absence. Their distinctive approaches, from geometric precision to fluid abstraction, invite viewers to piece together narratives from incomplete forms, challenging...
Adeniyi Olarenwaju, “Jummah Prayer” VII, 2024, Oil on canvas, 3ft x 3ft
Fidelis Eze Odogwu, Gymnast,2024, Metal, 51 x 24 inches
COVERGENCE: GFA
14 DEC - 31 JAN 2025
We are delighted to present 'Convergence' a group exhibition of paintings and sculpture by selected members of the Guild of Professional Fine Artists of Nigeria.
Co-curated by Ugonna Ibe and Edmund Olotu, Convergence features 54 pieces of painting, sculpture and mixed media that celebrate the intersection of tradition and innovation. The exhibition reflects the Guild's evolution, showcasing a rich diversity of perspectives that continue to shape and redefine contemporary...
.png)
Gbolahan Ayoola, Essence revealed, 2023, Earth, acrylic, pen, charcoal, pencil on canvas,72/54 inches
GBOLAHAN AYOOLA: SCOPE
3 DEC - 8 DEC 2024
Yenwa is pleased to announce our debut participation in Scope Miami Beach Art Fair, taking place from December 3-8, 2024.
In Booth H17, the gallery will present a solo exhibition featuring new and recent works by Gbolahan Ayoola.
Gbolahan Ayoola work delves into the complexities of identity, history, and social consciousness within the contemporary African landscape. His two distinct series, "Cultural Foundations" and "We Are Reagents", explore these themes through vibrant colors, bold textures, and symbolic imagery.
Celebrating its 23rd edition, Scope Art Show returns to its bespoke pavillion on the sands of Ocean Drive and 8th Street. Scope's annual...
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...
.jpg)
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...
.jpg)
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....
.jpg)
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...
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...