With new gallery, Affinity set to lift creative space

A new art space, Affinity Art Gallery, has opened in Lagos. The unveiling was marked with an inaugural group show, titled, The Opening.

The formal opening held on December 6, 2020, while the group show will run till January 15, 2021.

Notable artists whose works are showing include, Sam Ovraiti, Rufus Ogundele, Tony Enebeli, Jimoh Buraimoh, Bruce Onobrakpeya, Muraina Oyelami, Tola Wewe, Yomi Momoh, and Ben Osawe.

Others are Bisi Fakeye, Amos Odion, Akachukwu Emeka, Segun Aiyesan, Toni Oshiame, Ebong Ekwere, Tega Akpokona, Emmanuel Ekefrey, Chike Obeagu, Tony Nsofor, Sokenu Abayomi, and Olaoluwa Qozeem Abdulrahman.

Executive Assistant, Habib Olaleye (left); Gallery Assistant, Daniel James; Founder/Director,<br />Olugbemiro Arinoso; Curator/Manager,<br />Naomi Edobor and Photographer, Kaleef Lawal at the gallery opening recently.

According to him, the gallery offers itself as an exhibition, installation, and performance space, promoting cultural exchanges and global gallery partnerships.

“Our mission is to create a space that introduces the works of artists to a wide audience, as well as make art accessible to everyone locally and internationally,” he said.

Very conspicuous in the gallery’s two-story building are paintings, sculptures, and mixed media works from Arinoso’s existing collection of modern and contemporary artists.

According to Olugbemiro: “As a passionate collector of African art, I see the need to not only set up a gallery to spotlight artists who are bustling with life and creativity, but also to render advisory services to new and existing collectors. There is a shortage of institutions and infrastructure to support the creatives on our continent and, this pushed us towards this project, which would enable us to show and educate more people on African art.”

Speaking during its inaugural group exhibition, the gallery’s curator and manager, Naomi Edobor, said they have works from about 21 artists from the contemporary period and modern arts.

“We have officially opened and we are inviting everyone to come and see the work. There are going to be more exhibitions in the coming year. We have over 40 works already. We wanted to really show the collections of the founder, Olugbemiro Arinoso.

“We wanted to show what he has been able to collect and speak to work that we will be showing because we are a gallery of modern contemporary art. Our works are mainly going to be modern and contemporary art within Africa and artists who are outside Africa, but of Africa descent as well,” Edobor said.

She hinted that art is an investment, adding that she has seen works that were collected years ago and now selling here in Nigeria at very high prices.

Many guests, including some of the artists, whose works were on display, were present at the opening. The visitors were impressed by the works displayed and showed keen interest to own some of them.