Artist–Gallery Dispute Escalates as Mbongeni Buthelezi Alleges Unpaid Sales, Unreturned Artworks; Uniquity Art Gallery Cites Lawsuit

(One of the artworks by Mbongeni Buthelezi. The artist alleges that some works consigned to Uniquity Art Gallery in June 2025 remain unreturned, while payment for at least one allegedly sold work remains outstanding. Uniquity Art Gallery disputes the allegations and says it is pursuing legal action against the artist.)

A dispute between South African artist Mbongeni Buthelezi and Cape Town-based Uniquity Art Gallery has intensified after the artist publicly accused the gallery of failing to pay for at least one artwork allegedly sold and of not returning the remainder of 11 works consigned to the gallery. In response, the gallery says it is pursuing legal action against the artist.

Olumide Oresegun Marks 15-Year Journey with Threads of Heritage at Mydrim Gallery

Hyperreality painter Olumide Oresegun is set to present his latest solo exhibition, Threads of Heritage – Cultural Weaving, at Mydrim Gallery on Saturday, July 18.

The show will celebrate a significant milestone in his career, marking 15 years of artistic practice. Over the years, the gallery has hosted four of the artist’s solo exhibitions, beginning with Moment of Reason, his debut solo presentation, and continuing to support his creative evolution.

Widely celebrated for his technically accomplished hyperrealist paintings, Oresegun's latest body of work represents a new direction, examining the intersections of culture, identity, memory, and heritage.

Oresegun explains that the thread in the exhibition functions as both a symbolic bridge and a structural foundation, connecting the striking portraiture for which he is known with richly detailed still-life compositions. He describes cultural identity as a blend of the image people present to the world and the quiet domestic objects that preserve personal and collective histories.

Meet Ayodeji Kingsley, the Chemical Engineer Who Found His Voice in Sculpture

Ayodeji Kingsley

In a world increasingly grappling with environmental concerns and the relentless march of industrialisation, a Nigerian-born artist, Ayodeji Kingsley, is forging a powerful dialogue between the discarded remnants of our modern lives and the enduring spirit of nature. 

With Love From Home on View at Alliance Française Lagos

One of the works

A group exhibition titled With Love From Home will open tomorrow, July 11, at the Alliance Française de Lagos in Nigeria. Bringing together the works of seven emerging and established artists connected through the Badagry Young Contemporaries (BYC) collective. 

Featuring works by Andrew Nathan Oshodobo, Mariam Olubunmi Aliyu, Muktar Mustafa, Muyideen Olayinka, Olanrewaju Olagooke, Ashele Isreal, and Sejiro Mesewaku. Through painting, sculpture, and mixed-media practices, the artists explore ideas of memory, belonging, identity, family, and the emotional connections that define home.

Organised in collaboration with Badagry Young Contemporaries, With Love From Home invites viewers to reflect on what “home” means in a rapidly changing world. The exhibition examines home not only as a physical space but also as a repository of personal histories, cultural traditions, relationships, and shared experiences.

The project represents another milestone for the BYC initiative, which continues to provide a platform for artists from Badagry and beyond to engage with contemporary artistic discourse while maintaining strong connections to their cultural roots.

With Love from Home is co-curated by Paul Ayihawu and Ladunni Lambo. The exhibition opens on Saturday, July 11, 2026, at Alliance Française de Lagos, Mike Adenuga Centre, 9 Osborne Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, and will remain on view through August 1.

LIMCAF Calabar/Uyo Exhibits 'Open Letter'

The Life in My City Art Festival (LIMCAF) will open its Calabar/Uyo regional exhibition on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, at the Old Residency Museum, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria, presenting a diverse collection of contemporary artworks under the theme Open Letter.

The five-day exhibition, which runs until July 19, 2026, will officially open at 4:00 p.m. The show will be open to visitors daily from 9:00 a.m.

Curated by Kingsley Abeng, the exhibition explores contemporary social, cultural and personal realities through the lens of visual art. The theme, Open Letter, invites artists to use their works as messages that question, challenge and reflect on issues affecting society, encouraging dialogue between artists and the public.

According to the organisers, the regional exhibition provides an important platform for emerging and established artists from the Calabar/Uyo region to showcase their creative expressions while contributing to conversations about Africa's evolving cultural landscape.

As part of the exhibition's closing activities, LIMCAF will host a sip and paint closing day experience on Saturday, July 18, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. The interactive event will offer participants an afternoon of painting, music, drinks and networking in a relaxed atmosphere. Organisers noted that no previous painting experience is required, making the event accessible to everyone interested in exploring their creativity.

Supported by the Ford Foundation, the Life in My City Art Festival remains Nigeria's longest-running youth art festival, using its regional exhibitions to identify and promote emerging artistic talent ahead of its national finale. The Calabar/Uyo exhibition is expected to attract artists, collectors, students and art enthusiasts from across the region.