Windsor Gallery has announced the opening of its second gallery in Nigeria and its first in Lagos.

The gallery, which will officially be opened in Goriola, Victoria Island, Lagos on September 15, 2023, is coming after a year the gallery opened its first branch in Abidjan, Ivory Coast and Abuja.

This ground-breaking exhibition will feature works by Brice Esso (Ivory Coast), Musa Ganiyy (Nigeria), Pascal Konan (Ivory Coast), Aïda Muluneh (Ethiopia), Kristine Tsala (Cameroon), Mederic Turay (Ivory Coast), and Didier Viode (Ivory Coast).

Hailing from various corners of Africa, these artists will converge at Windsor Gallery in Lagos to present a combined 22 extraordinary works in the show with the theme, State of Africa, which celebrates art that explores the diverse and magnificent landscapes of the African continent.

State of Africa takes its title from the 2005 book, The State of Africa: A History of the Continent Since Independence by Martin Meredith. However, in a bid to take charge and shed more light on the continent, the maiden exhibition seeks to illuminate the rich tapestry of creativity that defines the state of art across Africa through painting, photography and sculpture by the artists.

The theme focuses on the myriad of voices, stories, and cultures that make up Africa’s artistic identity. It examines some of the ways in which artists interpret Africa’s contemporary complexities but more importantly its resilience strength, diversity and talent. Through their art, these creators navigate the intersections of tradition and modernity, heritage and innovation, echoing the ever-evolving dialogue between Africa’s past and present. The selection of artists is best described as a mosaic of styles, perspectives, and mediums underscoring the vast reservoir of creative expression found within Africa’s

The art-house described the inaugural exhibition as a harmonious convergence of diverse cultures, mediums and practices as seen in Brice Esso’s thoughtfully executed marble and bronze sculptures; Musa Ganiyy’s nostalgic reflections and compelling portraits; Pascal Konan’s use of bright colours juxtaposed with muted tones on repurposed denim; Aida Muluneh’s acclaimed breadth of technique to her unique works; Kristine Tsala’s subtle yet aesthetically pleasing brushstrokes; the vibrant abstract figurative works by Mederic Turay and Didier Voide’s portraits of self and other unseen personalities.

Speaking on the opening, CEO and Founder, Windsor Gallery, Richard Vedelego, said: “Windsor Gallery stands as the realization of our vision, a platform propelling the African contemporary art scene to unparalleled heights. This remarkable journey has led us to Lagos, where we are thrilled to unveil our flagship gallery this September 2023. As we reflect on this incredible year, we’re humbled to acknowledge that this is just the start.

“The exhibition is a powerful assemblage of works, allowing artists and audiences to converge and contemplate the harmonious confluence of diverse cultures and engage in conversations that transcend language, and creed.

“Nigerians and African artists won’t have to go to Europe, because all the infrastructure would have been provided for them here. Now we can serve Nigeria counterparts better, give them first access to the pieces, give them first engagement and allow them to broaden their horizons artistically.

He added: “If we can start building our own market here, it means that we will make money and develop the artistic landscape. Afrobeats has enormously helped our cause and in regards to positioning us and redefining the new version and the new point of view of Africanism. We need to start doing the same with our fashion and art and see our artists become more pronounced.

When asked about the rapid establishment of galleries, he said: “We have established five galleries since we started in 2022; there is two school of thought; first is that, if the whole idea of what we call the African contemporary art is actually more insulated so, today, Nigerian collectors only collect Nigerian artists, the same with Ivoirians so, it can’t be African contemporary art if we only collect regionally. For us, our scope of work is to open the view and the market for people to understand what is happening on the continent. We need to develop into the continent. We will open in Cape Town next year and Europe.

“Soon, Nigerian and other African artists won’t have to go to Europe because the infrastructure will be provided for them and we can serve our Nigeria counterpart better, giving them the first access to the pieces and also from the business view, we need to see art as a viable asset. If we can start building our own market, it means we will make money, develop the artistic landscape, and create this as a next-level cultural appropriation. Afrobeats has helped our cause and redefined Africanism, and we need to follow up in art, fashion and others.

Also, Manager, Winsor Gallery, Lagos, Ayo Oshodi, said: “There are a lot of talents in Africa that even if 20 galleries come up today, they won’t be enough. We see the talents and the potentials and the sky is the limit. We are trying to establish a cross-cultural connection.