By Ayomide Otitoju
Access Holdings Plc and Coronation Group hosted a private reception at Tate Modern in London to celebrate the success and enduring legacy of the Nigerian Modernism exhibition, one of the most significant presentations of African art in the gallery’s recent history.
The exhibition, held in partnership with Tate Modern from October 10, 2025, to May 8, 2026, featured nearly 300 works by more than 50 artists spanning five decades of Nigerian artistic production.
Through paintings, sculptures, textiles, ceramics and works on paper, the exhibition traced the evolution of modern Nigerian art from the 1940s through the post-independence era, highlighting the political, social and cultural forces that shaped modern African artistic expression.
According to the organisers, the exhibition attracted more than 180,000 visitors during its run and reached hundreds of millions of people worldwide through international media coverage, digital engagement, educational programmes and scholarly discussions.
The exhibition also expanded access to African art by creating opportunities for young people and members of the African diaspora to engage with Nigerian creativity, history and cultural heritage at one of the world’s leading museums.
The reception brought together prominent figures from business, diplomacy, academia, culture and the arts to recognise the exhibition’s international impact and cultural significance.
Chairman of Access Holdings and Coronation Group, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, said one of the exhibition’s most enduring achievements was its impact on young people, noting that nearly 2,800 students, many of African heritage, visited Tate Modern as part of the initiative.
He said feedback from participants showed the exhibition inspired a deeper appreciation of their heritage and strengthened their sense of identity and pride in their African roots.
Aig-Imoukhuede also highlighted the exhibition’s role in cultural diplomacy, describing culture as a vital force in strengthening national identity and global engagement.
He recalled that President Bola Tinubu included a private tour of the exhibition during his visit to London, describing it as a demonstration of culture’s role in promoting Nigeria on the global stage.
Interim Director of Tate Modern, Karin Hinsbo, described Nigerian Modernism as a landmark exhibition that presented a story never before told in a UK gallery.
She said the exhibition showcased the work of 50 artists across five decades, blending African and European artistic traditions through about 250 paintings, sculptures, textiles, ceramics and works on paper.
Hinsbo credited Access Holdings and Coronation Group for their partnership and support, saying the exhibition would not have been possible without their commitment.
The exhibition was widely recognised for challenging conventional art historical narratives by positioning Nigerian artists within the global story of twentieth-century modernism.
It also featured lectures, guided tours and educational programmes aimed at promoting greater understanding of African art and identity.
A major highlight was the display of seven historic wooden sculptures by Ben Enwonwu, originally commissioned in 1960 for the Daily Mirror in London and now part of the Access Holdings Art Collection.
Participants at the reception described the exhibition as a landmark cultural achievement that expanded scholarship on African modernism, strengthened international partnerships and introduced Nigerian art to new global audiences.
Although the exhibition has ended, organisers said its legacy will continue to influence conversations on African creativity, heritage, modern identity and cultural diplomacy.
