Seven future masters, Femi Okediji, Ayobami Adebiyi, Mary Adebayo, Pelumi Ojegoke, Emeka Amadi, Gbelekale Azeez and Ajayi Ojo are gearing up for the seventh edition of Future Masters Series holding at the Mydrim Gallery on Norman Williams, Ikoyi, Lagos.

Titled, Generations 7, the show has been consistent in promoting young artists and giving them a platform to thrive. The artists will feature works from different genres that will capture the essence of their art.

These artists will be exhibiting a total of 76 works for two weeks from August 9, 2025.

Ojegoke, a sculptor who passed through three institutions including The Polytechnic, Ibadan; Yaba College of Technology, where he studied sculpture, and Universal Studios of Art, Lagos, will feature 10 pieces, loves to work with different medium and explore any one that comes his way.

“One of my works is titled, Pillar of Change. We believe in our society that there is one particular person that will change everything for us, which is not. We can change this world if we are ready to contribute. We cannot expect a person to make the change and expect huge results. I titled another one, Aremu (Prince). Prince is the hope of tomorrow, what can make him a better person tomorrow is what he takes in today, so, if he misses his duty as Aremu, he can never become a responsible or successful king tomorrow. We have to play our part today to get a better result tomorrow.”

Adebayo, who has been painting for over two decades, will be showcasing 15 works. She did her National Youth Service Corps’ (NYSC) primary assignment at the Universal Studios of Art after graduating from the Obafemi Awolowo University.

She said: “Basically, I do charcoal work, water colour but my major medium is oil. I enjoy how oil feels on canvass. In this exhibition, I decided to bring some aspect of me some people might have not seen.

“The title of one of my works is Self Expression, which has been inspired by my growing up. There was no father figure at a point until I grew up. I love to express everything I went through.”

Amadi, a graduate of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, is a painter. His work is devoted to love, family bond and resilient human spirit.

Amadi, who is currently practicing at the Universal Studios of Art, is exhibiting 15 works. “One of my works, After The Day’s Work, shows a man thinking of what he’s going to face at home after work, preparing on how to face what to meet at home.”

Okedeji, a multi-disciplinary artist who specialises in sculpture, will be exhibiting six sculptures. He said: “I titled one of my works, The Fragment of Hope, which talks about the environment and the hope we give each other. Even when we are going through difficult moments, we still have piece of hope in us that sparks up and tell us that there is always light at the end of the tunnel.”

Ojo, the Yaba College of Technology-trained artist, will be coming with 10 works. “I have a work that revolves around Lagos hustling, and I titled it, Aje a Wa, the other one is Owo Inu Igbe. Owo Inu Igbe is about a particular environment in Lagos where I used to buy something, how the place looks like and what is coming out of the place, how money is being made in some environment and the value of what is coming out from that kind of environment.”

Azeez, a graduate of the Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, is a painter whose work represents different ideas, different concepts base on his personal experience. He is exhibiting 10 works.

His work calls people back to nature and in addition, he uses landscape as a case study.

“I use landscape because I see it as a tool for expression. Landscapes go beyond the beauty. As an artist, I try to focus on the environment. One of my works is titled, Silent Passage, and it draws emotion to our environment.”

Olalekan, a sculptor, who is showing 10 works, uses coins, knots and plates. “Most of my works revolves around human and lives.”

When asked why only one female will be exhibiting, Co-curator, Mydrim Gallery, Idowu Bankole, said: “It wasn’t intentional. We didn’t also plan to have seven artists. We planned for six artists but we realized that we have more painters, so, we decided to have one more.

“I have watched the artists’ progress over time and they are kind of artists we want to go back to all the time. Mydrim Gallery is proud to have the artists exhibiting in generation seven, they are the perfect seven.”