Yinka Olatunbosun
A unique opportunity was opened recently in Lagos by The Gemini Art Gallery as it hosted a transformative event at the JK Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History in Onikan, Lagos. This gathering, known as the Lagos Life Drawing Workshop, took place on April 25 and 26, 2026, serving as a bridge between generations of Nigerian artistic talent.
Founded by Raphael Akinnire, Gemini Art Gallery utilised the workshop to address a specific gap in the market: the foundational importance of drawing in an industry that often prioritises finished paintings.
The workshop was distinguished by the presence of “Art Masters”—veteran practitioners who shared their studio-style techniques with younger enthusiasts. The event fostered a unique camaraderie, breaking the traditional barrier between teacher and student.
Some of the key facilitators and established artists include Abiodun Olaku, Duke Asidere, Ogbemi Heymann, George Edozie, Bob Nosa Uwagboe, Uche Uzorka, and Steve Ekpenisi.
Participants were made to focus on human anatomy and form, which are often considered the most difficult skills to master. The exercises were designed to help artists “loosen their pencils” and maintain the integrity of their strokes.
Raphael Akinnire encouraged young artists to view their skill as an “alternative currency,” highlighting the immense economic potential within the Nigerian art sector.
“For those of us that belong to my generation, it is an opportunity to share the experience we have built over time… Often, they call us masters, but to my understanding, we are all colleagues,” said Olaku.
This workshop is part of a broader movement by Gemini Art Gallery to ensure that the “old wine” of traditional mastery is poured into the “new skin” of contemporary Nigerian art.
The participants—ranging from teenage prodigies from Yaba to retired professionals rediscovering their passion—were tasked with “Visual Mapping.” They spent the first two hours sketching the intricate patterns found in the JK Randle architecture. They captured the way the light hit the bronze-colored fins of the building, translating the physical space into abstract geometry.
As the afternoon rolled in, the workshop shifted toward mixed media provided by Gemini Art Gallery.
The mentors—established artists represented by Gemini—moved between the tables like shadows. They didn’t correct; they nudged. At the wrap of the session, the workshop transformed into an impromptu exhibition. The work was pinned to mobile partitions, creating a labyrinth of fresh perspectives.
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