Top 10 Nigerian Artists Shaping the Global Art Scene

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Nigeria is widely recognised for its diverse and rich cultural history, and in recent years, the country’s art sector has become a significant force in the global marketplace. Nigerian artists are making significant advances in international art circles and pushing boundaries within their nation. These artists are changing how people worldwide view African art, whether through painting, sculpture, mixed media, or digital art. 

This article examines the top ten Nigerian artists influencing the international art scene and discusses their contributions to modern art.

1. Yinka Shonibare

Born in London, England, on 9 August 1962, Yinka Shonibare is among Nigeria’s most internationally renowned artists. Distinguished for his investigation of colonialism and post-colonialism in an international setting, Shonibare frequently explores cultural identity in his work by fusing Western and African aesthetics. Many people have praised his installations, including the well-known “Nelson’s Ship in a Bottle,” formerly displayed on the Fourth Plinth in London’s Trafalgar Square. Shonibare is an established name in contemporary art because he uses vibrantly coloured Dutch wax fabrics to show the difficulties of migration and international trade.

2. Njideka Akunyili Crosby

The complex balance between Nigerian customs and her experiences living in the United States is captured in Njideka Akunyili Crosby’s artwork. Layered imagery and cultural hybridity define her works, which feature her mixed-media portraits that exhibit the fusion of Western and Nigerian influences. Born in Enugu State in 1983, Njideka Crosby has achieved prominence on a global scale by becoming the recipient of esteemed honours, including the MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship. Her works frequently address migration, identity, and the nuanced stories of cross-cultural interactions.

3. Ben Enwonwu

Odinigwe Benedict Chukwukadibia Enwonwu, a prominent figure in Nigerian modern art, was renowned for his significant contributions to African modernism. The famous artwork “Tutu,” by Enwonwu, sometimes known as the “African Mona Lisa,” caused a stir when it was found again after being missing for many years. His work includes painting, sculpture, and drawing, and he significantly influenced the development of Nigeria’s post-colonial cultural identity. Enwonwu was a pioneer of contemporary African art, and his impact is still evident in the works of other contemporary Nigerian artists.

Born in Onitsha, Anambra State, on July 14, 1917, as a twin to the aristocratic Umueze-Aroli family, his groundbreaking work helped modern African art become more visible and widely distributed after colonisation. He passed away on February 5, 1994.

4. Peju Alatise

Peju Alatise, born in 1975, is an artist who works in several media, including painting, sculpture, and installation. Her art usually tackles social topics, especially Nigerian women’s lives. Through her art, she investigates spirituality, gender, and political subjects while criticising social standards. Alatise has had her thought-provoking installations shown at the Venice Biennale, and her audacious and socially conscious approach to art has won her numerous prizes worldwide, including the 2017 FNB Art Prize.

Her work was displayed in the 57th edition of the Venice Biennale, which had the subject Viva Arte Viva (Long Live Art). The first Nigerians to exhibit at the art show were Alatise and two other Nigerian artists, Victor Ehikhamenor and Qudus Onikeku. Her work was a group of life-size figures based on the life of a servant girl.

5. Victor Ehikhamenor

Nigerian visual artist, writer, and photographer Victor Ehikhamenor is renowned for his vast works that address postcolonial socioeconomics in contemporary Black lives and transnational cultural legacies. He was chosen, along with two other artists, to represent Nigeria at the Venice Biennale in 2017, marking the country’s first participation in the exhibition. One description of his work is that it is “a symbol of resistance” to colonialism. He was born in Udomi-Uwessan, Edo State.

6. Toyin Ojih Odutola

The intricate, textural portraits by Toyin Ojih Odutola, which delve into the subtleties of race, identity, and personal history, are widely recognised. She challenges traditional portrayals of Black characters with engaging portraits created with pen, ink, and pastel. Odutola’s artwork has been shown at the Whitney Museum and the Smithsonian, among other esteemed establishments. Her examination of storytelling and reworking of African identities has established her as a significant figure in modern art.

Her distinctive use of intricate mark-making and opulent compositions challenges the conventions surrounding storytelling and portraiture. Ojih Odutola’s artwork frequently explores a range of subjects, including conceptions of blackness as a visual and social symbol, the legacy of colonialism, queer and gender theory, and experiences of migration and displacement.

 7. Nnenna Okore

Investigating environmental issues and using tactile, organic materials like paper, clay, and fabric are central to Nnenna Okore’s artistic oeuvre. The textures and landscapes of Africa inspire her work, which often deals with waste, decay, and regeneration themes. Okore is a prominent voice in the global discussion on sustainability in art, and her work has been featured in many international exhibits.

In Okore’s work, abandoned or flotsam objects are often used in labour-intensive, repetitive processes to produce elaborate sculptures and installations. Some of her sophisticated techniques, such as rolling, twisting, weaving, stitching, and dying, were picked up from watching Nigerians in the area go about their daily lives. In her most recent pieces, Okore creates large-scale bioplastic installations and art forms using plant-based materials, specifically food scraps and garbage. Both domestically and abroad, galleries and museums have displayed her artwork. She has received numerous honours worldwide, including the Australian Creative Victoria Award in 2021 and the Fulbright Scholar Award in 2012.

8. Kehinde Wiley

Kehinde Wiley enthusiastically embraces his Nigerian background, which affects much of his work, despite being born in the United States to a Nigerian father. Wiley is most known for his opulent, highly stylised portraits of Black people, many placed against elaborate settings with Baroque influences. His 2018 portrait of former US President Barack Obama, currently on display at the National Portrait Gallery, brought his reworking of classic portraiture international recognition.

A 2007 show of his paintings was held at the Columbus Museum of Art, characterising his works as “heroic portraits which address the image and status of young African-American men in contemporary culture.” Wiley was listed among Time magazine’s 2018 list of the 100 Most Influential People.

9. Sokari Douglas Camp

Known for her enormous steel sculptures, Sokari Douglas Camp draws inspiration from Nigerian culture, especially the customs of her Kalabari heritage. Camp’s artwork has been exhibited globally, including at the Smithsonian and the British Museum, frequently addressing social justice issues and environmental activism. Her use of industrial elements mixed with traditional African patterns makes her steelwork especially noteworthy.

Sokari was born in Buguma, Niger Delta, but is based in London. She was the recipient of a bursary from the Henry Moore Foundation, and in the 2005 Birthday Honours list, she received recognition as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE).

10. Bruce Obomeyoma Onobrakpeya

Bruce Onobrakpeya made valuable contributions to African art as a pioneer of contemporary printmaking in Nigeria. By fusing contemporary methods with traditional Nigerian motifs, Onobrakpeya created cutting-edge printmaking and sculpture methods.  Through his yearly Harmattan Workshop, he mentors a new generation of Nigerian artists, and his work has won him honours across the globe.

He exhibited in the National Museum of African Art of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.; the Malmö Konsthall in Malmö, Sweden; and the Tate Modern in London. Onobrakpeya’s vibrant abstract paintings are on display at the National Gallery of Modern Art in Lagos, and his artwork is available at the Virtual Museum of Modern Nigerian Art, albeit as of October 2017, there were no exhibitions there.