Tiwani Contemporary will open a new space in Lagos
Tiwani Contemporary, Lagos is a new art gallery planned to open in Victoria Island in Lagos, the West-African cultural capital of Nigeria in February 2022. Its programme will span an ambitious year-round series of changing exhibitions by gallery artists and other associate artists – continuing to prioritise artists from the African continent and its diaspora. Beyond its own roster of artists, the gallery will also mount major exhibitions of modern and contemporary artists across all media from around the globe – presenting never-before-seen shows in situ for local audiences.
“I am deeply honoured to be opening a new space in Lagos – my first home, the city where I was raised, and still have strong ties to and where I first fell in love with art many years ago. Following crucial dialogues with and encouragement from mentors, old friends of the gallery and our artists, I am excited to finally make happen a dream I had ten years ago when Tiwani Contemporary first opened in London.” says Maria Varnava, Founder and Director, Tiwani Contemporary.
Tiwani Contemporary, Lagos will comprise a white cube exhibition space measuring over 2000 sq ft, purpose-built for expansive presentations and commissions by artists. The gallery also plans to develop a sculpture garden. The new space will partner with local and other West African institutions and cultural organizations to develop projects and opportunities for exhibiting artists alongside public programming and educational activities to activate exhibitions including screenings, talks and workshops.
Maria Varnava adds “Given the gallery’s focus, it was vital to demonstrate our commitment to the African continent and to allow our artists the opportunity to work, engage and exhibit in this region. Beyond our roster, as we plan to mount exhibitions by internationally known artists in the new space, we hope to provide wider in-person access to art to local audiences who would have only been able to view the work of such artists either abroad in galleries and museums or in books or online. With Tiwani Contemporary, Lagos, we hope to participate in the already-sophisticated arts ecosystem being developed by our peers in Lagos and the rest of West Africa. As such, we hope we can contribute to helping to expand the story, significance and possibility of art.”
The gallery’s expansion to Lagos, its second space outside of London, UK – marks a major milestone in Tiwani Contemporary’s history as it celebrates its 10th anniversary this month onwards.
Founded in London in 2011 by Maria Varnava, Tiwani Contemporary exhibits and represents international contemporary artists, focussing on Africa and its diaspora. Since its establishment, the gallery continues to showcase new and established talent – mounting landmark and critically-acclaimed exhibitions in a series of firsts. Among renowned artists we can mention Mequitta Ahuja, Virginia Chihota, Theo Eshetu, Joy Labinjo, Gareth Nyandoro or Pamela Phatsimo Sunstrum among others.
