London: Access Holdings, Coronation Group, and Tate Modern have collaborated to present an exhibition that highlights Nigeria’s significant impact on global modern art. The exhibition, which commenced with an opening reception at Tate Modern, will run from October 2025 to May 2026, celebrating Nigeria’s modernist art movement.
According to African Press Organization, the exhibition brings together 50 artists and 250 works, tracing the evolution of Nigeria’s modern art from the 1940s to the 1980s. This collection spans the late colonial era through independence, featuring a diverse range of media including paintings, sculptures, ceramics, textiles, and poetry that have shaped global perceptions of African creativity.
One of the exhibition’s highlights includes seven wooden sculptures by Ben Enwonwu, originally commissioned in 1960 for the Daily Mirror in London. These sculptures, now part of the Access Holdings Art Collection, symbolize Nigeria’s cultural heritage and its assertion of identity post-independence. Their return to the UK marks a significant cultural reclamation, owned and curated by Nigerians.
Amaechi Okobi, Chief Communications Officer at Access Holdings, expressed immense pride in seeing Nigerian art featured at Tate Modern, stating that it felt like a homecoming and a celebration of Nigeria’s cultural legacy in the heart of London.
Beyond this exhibition, Access Holdings and Coronation Group are enhancing their cultural influence through educational programming and youth engagement initiatives. They sponsored a student tour at Tate Modern, providing young Africans in the UK an opportunity to connect with their country’s artistic heritage and fostering cultural exchange and creative learning.
Ngozi Akinyele, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at Coronation Group, highlighted the significance of the event, noting that the opening of Nigerian Modernism was the largest in Tate’s 25-year history. She emphasized that this partnership signals a renaissance in African art, akin to similar movements in music, film, and fashion, restoring dignity and belonging to a new generation.
Access Holdings continues to support the creative ecosystem through its corporate art collection and cultural education programs, promoting heritage appreciation and artistic development among young people. Meanwhile, Coronation Group, via its Coronation Art Galleries, contributes to the preservation of modern and contemporary African art, including initiatives to preserve Benin Bronzes in collaboration with national institutions.
Together, Access Holdings and Coronation Group demonstrate how modern finance and modern art can intersect to drive a shared vision of cultural celebration and education.