Looking to breathe vibrancy into your living space without emptying your wallet? Here are five emerging Nigerian artists whose work is bold, beautiful, and surprisingly accessible—featuring the stunning Jacqueline Suowari, along with four peers bringing fresh vision to contemporary art.
1. Jacqueline Suowari
Abuja-based Jacqueline transforms humble ballpoint pen into monumental, emotionally charged pieces layered with ink, fabric, acrylic, and gold leaf. Her Afro-urban portraits—some over eight feet tall—are jaw-droppingly intricate, bridging the personal and cultural with elegant depth. Her recent “Hair With Me” series was celebrated in July 2025 in Ikoyi, surrounded by keen art collectors . Her works will make a dramatic yet meaningful statement in any home.
2. Ayobola Kekere-Ekun
Emerging from Lagos’s academic and art scene, Ayobola specialises in paper quilling—creating delicate, layered compositions that explore themes of femininity, mythology, and social power structures. Her solo show, Resilient Lines, at Rele Gallery in 2019 earned her critical acclaim, following her win of the 2018 Future Awards Africa Prize for Creativity. Since then, her pieces have travelled to gallery spaces in Johannesburg, with her tactile art bringing a refined yet intimate touch to any room.
3. Nengi Omuku
Artist and sculptor Nengi paints with a dreamlike sensibility. She frequently works on sanyan, a traditional Nigerian textile, embedding history and texture within her sweeping, abstracted figures and vibrant, celestial landscapes. Though her solo exhibitions now grace renowned venues in the UK and US, her work still feels profoundly rooted in identity and emotion—and surprisingly attainable if you opt for smaller works or limited editions.
4. Dipo Doherty
An MIT-trained engineer turned painter, Dipo explores spatial geometry with sharp precision and expressive abstraction. His works have been shown at ART X Lagos and appeared in Arthouse’s Affordable Art Auction, making his cerebral compositions available at prices that match his conceptual rigour. His art fits beautifully in modern, minimalist spaces—especially if you’re into structure with soul.
