Adegbola Gallery Opens in Lagos

By Nehru Odeh

Adegbola Gallery, a new contemporary art space, has been launched in Victoria Island, Lagos. Founded by lawyer and cultural entrepreneur Kayode Adegbola, the gallery was unveiled on 1 October, coinciding with Nigeria’s Independence Day celebration. The gallery is located at 1619 Danmole Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.

It opened with a landmark exhibition themed Heroes Past, which explores leadership, identity, and memory through rarely seen paintings, sculptures, photographs, and archival materials by accomplished artists such as Akinola Lasekan, Uche Okeke, Ben Enwonwu, Oyerinde Olotu, Rufus Ogundele, Lady Head, and Doreen Kern.

Unfolding across media and generations, the show offers a powerful meditation on how art has shaped and challenged national narratives.

Adegbola represents a new generation of African leaders working across art, business, and media. Through Adegbola Art Projects, his curatorial and advisory platform, he has spent over 15 years building infrastructure for Nigerian artists, championing both established masters and emerging talent. With Adegbola Gallery, he establishes a new home for serious curatorial ambition—rooted in local context, yet attuned to global conversations.

Conceived as a travelling institutional exhibition, Heroes Past debuted as the inaugural show at Adegbola Gallery. It features rarely seen works—paintings, sculptures, photographs, and archival materials—honouring Nigeria’s pre- and post-independence leaders. The artists represented include Akinola Lasekan, Uche Okeke, Ben Enwonwu, Oyerinde Olotu, Rufus Ogundele, Lady Head, and Doreen Kern.

Asked what inspired him to launch the gallery and its inaugural exhibition, Heroes Past, Adegbola said:

“Now feels like the right time because Nigeria is at an inflection point. A generation of artists, collectors, and audiences are maturing simultaneously. I wanted to create a community that responds to the moment—by elevating critical dialogue, finding and showcasing exceptional work, and building lasting value around our culture.

I’m really excited about it because of the combination of beauty, historical relevance, and educational value. Exhibiting portraits and busts of Nigerian nationalists will not only explore the stylistic expressions of master Nigerian artists, it will also encourage audiences to learn more about how Nigeria came into being.

For myself, I want to build something that endures and uplifts. For artists, I hope to provide space and support for long-term growth—not just exposure. And for audiences, I want to offer encounters that are transformative: that provoke thought, offer beauty, and deepen our sense of who we are and who we might become.”

The gallery’s opening also marks the beginning of a dynamic public programme. In November, it will exhibit at Art X Lagos (6–9 November), showcasing new paintings by Adewale Kolawole John, alongside a focused tribute to Akinola Lasekan.

With a curatorial approach grounded in reflection, experimentation, and long-term artist development, Adegbola Gallery is positioned to become a vital player in the Nigerian art ecosystem—investing in artists, commissioning new work, and sparking cross-disciplinary dialogue. The gallery seeks not only to present art but also to shift the terms on which it is seen, discussed, and valued.

Asked how he sees the gallery contributing to or shaping the Nigerian art ecosystem, Adegbola noted:

“Locally, by nurturing artists, commissioning critical writing, and deepening collector engagement. Internationally, by advocating for Nigerian and African voices on equal terms—not as tokens, but as peers. We want to shape perception, practice, and power in the art world.”

On partnerships and collaborations through Adegbola Art Projects, he added:

“We’re interested in partnerships that align with our values: cultural depth, intellectual rigour, and long-term vision. That could mean collaborating with museums, biennales, or brands—but always with integrity. We’re also keen on cross-disciplinary projects that bridge into passion areas like film, architecture, and publishing.”

Adegbola, a lawyer, advisor, and creative industries entrepreneur, received his Bachelor of Laws degree from Queen Mary, University of London. He has also attended courses at the London School of Economics and Political Science, and the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.

After a foundation in litigation and commercial transaction advisory, he gained public sector experience working with the $70m Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) across concept, strategy, and implementation stages. He also served as Secretary of the Governing Council of the Lagos State Employability Support Project, a $4m matching fund between LSETF and UNDP.

Adegbola has advised both traditional and venture-backed companies across Africa. He has invested in over 20 high-growth, technology-enabled companies, sits on the Board of Governors of The Vale College, chairs the Board of venture-backed Fez Delivery Company, and serves as a Trustee at several non-profits.

On the creative front, Adegbola has produced art exhibitions since 2010. He is a keen art collector, founder of The Vault Artist Residency, and was an instrumental contributor to the second-ever Nigerian Pavilion at the London Design Biennale in 2023.