Nigerian Modernism in London: ‘A bold new language for art’

Alastair Smart | Christie’s | 2nd October 2025

At last, a survey of modernist African art! This particular London show focuses on Nigeria, and it tells a complicated story. Independence created a sense of cultural “emancipation” but, in a country with 250 ethnic groups, the art that has emerged is hugely diverse. One critic thinks some of it is “folksy”, but perhaps that’s part of the story. It is a parochial story and should not, says the curator, be viewed through a “pan-African lens. It ought to be understood on its own terms”.