Nigerian in forefront of $13bn African art market, says Patrons director

Keturah Ovio, a director of Patrons Modern & Contemporary African Art, an art advisory and dealership firm, says Nigerians are in the forefront of the African art market which is estimated at $13 billion.

Ovio said this on Thursday while answering questions on her upcoming miniature art exhibition titled “small is beautiful” slated for October 21 and 23 in Lagos.

She said the Nigerian art is one of the most sought after in Africa and attracts investors from all over the world.

According to her, Nigerian artworks are sold for thousands and hundreds of thousands of dollars across the world, which is a testament to the fact that art as a profession can be quite lucrative for those who pursue it.

Ovio further said the Nigerian art industry has matured so much that works done by artists in the country are exhibited in various parts of the world, including London, Paris, Rome, New York, Miami, Valencia and Berlin, which are often regarded as the artistic cities of the world.

“Nigerians are very creative. In October 2021, Jacon Osinachi Igwe was the first crypto-artist from Africa to sell his works at Christie’s auction house in Europe,” she said.

“Three years before, Bob-Nosa’s works had been sold in an exhibition widely described as successful in Europe. In October 2019, $1.4 million was realised from Ben Enweonwu’s work during a Sotheby’s auction in London. These are just a few examples of how the Nigerian arts are stamping their feet on Africa and the rest of the world.”

She noted that artists are not given sufficient attention in Nigeria as some drop out of the way due to lack of patronage and support by the government and the consuming public.

“We need to consume our arts in Nigeria because it has a lot of benefits. Apart from being a big industry globally, it provides excitement, leisure and tells stories of history that can’t be engagingly told in written form,” she said.

“It is a big industry that can help to shore up our revenue. When Nigerians travel out of the country, they visit art galleries, attend exhibitions, and conduct museum visits. They spend the foreign exchange in order to see and watch what we already have locally. Supporting local artists will give them confidence to preserve what belongs to us.”

Ovio said her upcoming miniature art salon will showcase artworks of a well collected artist, Emmanuel Dudu, who has exhibited and has been featured in several prominent places.

His works currently sits in the collections of the King of Morocco — King Mohammed VI Museum. While the private viewing will take place on October 20, the public viewing and exhibition will happen from October 21 to 23.

“As humans, our obsession to create great things in small sizes is evidenced since the world’s earliest civilisation. There’s something intricate and mind-boggling about paintings, sculptures, and engravings that come in small sizes,” she added.

“Miniature art is a novelty. As an art form, it is extremely detailed as it forces the artist to communicate and engage with the audience in limited space and construct. ‘Small is beautiful’ is a series of miniature art exhibitions that are curated to stimulate one’s mind to lean in, inspire, and connect.”

The event is organised by Patrons Modern & Contemporary African Art in partnership with Liquiditti Platforms and Solutions Limited, which provides access to finance for SMEs, LPO financing, car-backed loans, SME asset acquisition, and other bespoke loans.