Thought Pyramid Art Center

Nigerian Art Is Taking Over The World Very Soon - Olorogun Jeff Ajueshi

Nigerian art continues to acquire international acclaim and fetch exorbitant prices on both the domestic and international markets. The country’s creative and cultural history is a tapestry of allusions, yet the threads that connect it to the past meet on an axis with the collage and caricature of multicultural exchange and even in the middle of the pandemic, Nigeria’s art scene remains dynamic and diverse; many of the few museums and art galleries are open and have fascinating lineups for every season of the year.

Enter Olorogun Jeff Ajueshi, an art specialist and the Founder/ Artistic Director of Thought Pyramid Art Center, an art gallery established to meet the need of quality space and expertise to manage, preserve and showcase artworks as it is done in the developed world.

According to him, his first encounter with art was as a child and this dates back to when he was in primary school.

“My first encounter with art was as a child, first it was my art teacher at primary school, and my visit with my dad to the studio of a Carver in Benin city and the Benin Museum.

As a child, I have always been very fascinated and was almost obsessed with visual images and bright colors. Naturally, art for me is often like refined nature that capitalizes on my obsessions with colors, shapes, and causal chains.”

First the name THOUGHT PYRAMID ART CENTER almost sounds off or not even usual for an art center but Olorogun Jeff Ajueshi apparently says, “Thought Pyramid is a pyramid of our creative thoughts, a solid groud where our creative ideas are housed in the form of art.”

When asked on why he created it, Olorugun went short and straight to the point: his love for art and his zeal to showcase Nigerian artists and art all over the world.

Locals and tourists are returning, perhaps with a renewed appreciation for Nigeria’s role as Africa’s arts capital, whether it’s to see new productions or revisit old favorites, or to attend exhibitions, fashion shows, and other events.

Presently situated in just Lagos and Abuja, should the oppotunity to spread wings present itself, Olorogun says “Definitely, one of our aims is to showcase African Art to the world, so once we get an opportunity to expand, we will dive right into it.”Art is a highly personal choice, and you may pursue it in whatever way you want.

You may choose any form of wall art from an infinite selection, or you can have three-dimensional art that takes up some of the floor area. It all boils down to personal preference and the amount of available space.

Sensitive. Revealing. Thought Pyramid Art Center offers a collection of corners and rooms filled with clear photographs of art ranging from thought-provoking Contemporary, Surrealism to Abstract and even local carvings alongside breath taking steel and wooden sculptures.

On his thoughts with regards to the recognition Nigerian Art is getting at the moment, Olorogun makes a bold assertion but little wonder why. The country and it’s continent have been recognized for it’s art form since the 20th century and infact, during colonial rule in Africa, thousands of cultural artefacts were plundered, but now, African countries want them back and only recently, Europe agreed to loan the famous Benin Bronzes back to Nigeria. “Nigeria Art is storming the world in a big way. We are seeing a lot of young Nigerian artist displayed in foreign countries. These young artists are very creative and can literally make art out of anything. So trust me when I say Nigeria Art is taking over very soon.”

The increasing representation of artists by professionally-run galleries specializing in African art; more appearances by Nigerian artists at major exhibitions around the world; more artists studying at reputable international institutions; and critical messages, which is well conveyed to larger markets through channels such as social media, all contribute to the increased interest in Nigerian art.

What the country need now is to create more awareness, Art should not be seen as a side, it should be fully incorporated into the school curriculum so growing kids understand the importance and interpretation of various art forms.