A new chapter in African art history opened this week at Tate Modern, London, with the unveiling of Nigerian Modernism, a landmark exhibition made possible through a partnership with Access Holdings Plc and Coronation Group. The exhibition, which officially began with an opening reception at Tate Modern, celebrates Nigeria’s pivotal contribution to global modern art and runs from October 2025 to May 2026.
Bringing together 50 artists and 250 works, Nigerian Modernism traces the evolution of Nigeria’s modern art movement from the 1940s to the 1980s, spanning the late colonial era through independence, and showcases paintings, sculptures, ceramics, textiles and poetry that helped shape global perceptions of African creativity.
Among the works on display are seven wooden sculptures by Ben Enwonwu, commissioned in 1960 for the Daily Mirror in London and now part of the Access Holdings Art Collection. Once symbols of a newly independent nation asserting its identity, these sculptures return to the UK as powerful emblems of cultural heritage and reclamation, owned, curated, and championed by Nigerians.
This partnership between Access Holdings, Coronation Group and Tate Modern, reflects a shared commitment to celebrating Africa’s creative excellence and ensuring that Nigerian modernists such as Ben Enwonwu, Uzo Egonu, and Ladi Kwali take their rightful place in the global art narrative.
“This collaboration is a statement of confidence in Africa’s creative excellence,” said Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, CFR, Chairman of Access Holdings and Coronation Group. “We see culture as both legacy and opportunity, a way to strengthen our identity, empower future generations, and place African narratives at the heart of global conversations.”
“Seeing our Nigerian art on the walls of Tate Modern filled me with indescribable pride. It felt like home had travelled, like Nigeria itself was being celebrated in the heart of London, and the world bore witness,” said Amaechi Okobi, Chief Communications Officer, Access Holdings.
Beyond the exhibition, both organisations are extending their cultural impact through educational programming and youth engagement initiatives. Access Holdings and Coronation Group also sponsored a student tour at Tate Modern, giving young Africans in the UK the opportunity to engage directly with their country’s artistic heritage, while fostering cultural exchange and creative learning.
Ngozi Akinyele, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at Coronation Group, commented: “The opening of Nigerian Modernism was the largest in Tate’s 25-year history. That signals the scale and significance of our partnership with Tate. We are stewarding a renaissance in African art, just as we have seen in music, film, and fashion, a renaissance that is restoring dignity and belonging for a generation that must carry our story forward.”
