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.

Emmanuel Idowu's Between Memory and Becoming, A Visual Meditation

Emmanuel Idowu's MFA solo exhibition, Between Memory and Becoming, is currently on view at the Department of Fine and Applied Arts Gallery, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife. Officially opened on July 9, 2026, the exhibition runs until July 10, 2026, offering visitors a final opportunity to experience a compelling body of work that reflects years of artistic research, technical refinement, and personal exploration.

Cameroon's Bolo Unveils RACINES

Bolo 'Espace Art and Culture, in partnership with the Institute of Fine Arts of the University of Douala, Nkongsamba, has announced the inaugural edition of Racine's (Roots), a group exhibition celebrating the next generation of Cameroonian contemporary artists. 

The exhibition carries an inspiring theme: The Future Has Roots. Running from July 10 to August 31, 2026, Racines will showcase the works of nine promising artists: Alice Mbappe, Théophile Takam, Duchesse Djuiko, John Tchami, Nelson Obiang, Franklin Manga, Briand Fosso, Daryl Tchuente, and Ivanelle Madaha. Each artist presents a unique visual language, reflecting the diversity and vitality of contemporary artistic practice in Cameroon.

The exhibition also marks the debut of the Racines Prize, designed to encourage excellence among emerging artists. Three awards will be presented during the opening ceremony: the Bolo Contemporary Vision Prize, the Institute of Fine Arts Plastic Research Prize, and the Justine Gaga Prize, dedicated to promoting female artistic creativity.

An esteemed jury comprising Professor Fandio, Edith Mbella, Justine Gaga, Hervé Yamguen, Arnold Fokam, and Guy Woueté will evaluate the participating artists and announce the winners during the vernissage.

Organisers describe Racine's as more than an exhibition; it is a platform for discovering future leaders of contemporary African art. By supporting young talent at the beginning of their careers, Bolo 'Espace Art and Culture aims to demonstrate that while museums celebrate established artists, institutions and cultural spaces play a crucial role in revealing tomorrow's artistic voices.

The exhibition opens with a public vernissage on Thursday, July 9, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. at BOLO L'Espace Art and Culture, Rue 2727, angle Rue 2808, Entrée Station Neptune Ngodi, derrière Santa Lucia Akwa, Immeuble Transcom Voyage, Bolo Résidence, Douala, Cameroon. The exhibition will run from July 10 to August 31, 2026.