Djakou Kassi Nathalie

“Learning is a lifelong and continuous process. I believe that the willingness to increase our knowledge is one of the greatest gifts we can give ourselves.”

— Nathalie Djakou Kassi

Nathalie Djakou Kassi —the seasoned sculptor—is a Cameroonian Ceramicist based in Lagos, Nigeria.

Born in Cameroon in 1975, Nathalie has been inspired by art since her early childhood. She has been a clay addict since 1992. Her studio practice started very early after her university studies in 1998. The same year, she became an instructor in Central Africa’s only Art School at the time - Institut de Formation Artistique, at Mbalmayo, Cameroon. During her time there, she was able to introduce the "Material Technology'' course into the school's curriculum.

She has worked with many renowned artists in projects and as group exhibitions and has bagged a number of recognition and awards such as

2015 & 2016 - SNA Rivers at the Presidential Hotel in Port Harcourt,
2017 - OREZE V exhibition in Onitsha
PROVENANCE at the Thought Pyramid Art Centre
1 of 100 winners of the UNION BANK 100 years anniversary art competition
2018 - The First Ibadan Affordable Art Fair
2018 - OCTOBER RAIN with SNA at Thought Pyramids Art Centre

An award winning ceramicist, Nathalie is a globally collected artist. She is also a member of the Sculptors Association of Nigeria (ScAN).

Like many artists, miniature is not Nathalie’s go to art form. Her exhibited works at small & Iconic's Women in Arts March 2023 edition are phenomenal and are sure to spark interesting conversations.

Every collector must have a Nathalie Djakou Kassi’s work in their private collection.

Bola Obatuyi

“There is an ongoing misconception that physical attraction is the most important aspect of being a woman. I beg to differ. Every woman has been endowed differently, and this should be celebrated because our perceived adequacies or lack thereof makes us uniquely beautiful.”

— Bola Obatuyi

Bola Obatuyi is a fast-rising painter who combines fabric and acrylic paint to create a rich representation of gentleness and the gift of femininity.

Born in 1992, Bola is a graduate in Fine Arts from Auchi Polytechnic. She craftily combines fabric and acrylic paint to create a rich representation of the gentleness and the gift of femininity.

Bola uses her art to show appreciation to women in Nigerian society and beyond as she addresses body positivity, sisterhood, and defiance of socially constructed notions of womanhood. Such constructs include the misconception that physical attractiveness is the most important aspect of being a woman. Bola playfully infuses traditional African weaving patterns and colourful African attire (sometimes ripping apart old ones) with optical illusions, acid drips, and pixelated glitches. These works combine visuals and written storytelling to address issues such as Africans being underrepresented in art history.

In the past, she worked at The National Theatre, Iganmu Lagos, Paddy Art Studio Ibadan, and Oluwole Omofemi Art Studio Ibadan, to learn the ropes of the industry.

Though her career is just taking off, Bola is relentless in putting herself forward. She has exhibited in groups in Nigeria, the UK, and the United States including

2022 - “Some of us are brave" Art Exhibition (UK)
2022 - Prizm art fair (USA)
2021 - Shape of the New (UK)
2021 - Art Project (UK)
2021 - Can’t Stop our Flow (UK)
2021 - Awakening group show at Noho Studios, (UK).
2021 - EMERGENCE - A Group Exhibition (Nigeria).
INERTIA Art exhibition at National Museum, Lagos (Nigeria)

2019 - Destiny Exhibition, Alexis Gallery (Nigeria)
2019 - Oreze VII Art Exhibition (Nigeria)
2019 - Edo North Exhibition, Life in my City Exhibition and Art Expo Festival Exhibition (Nigeria).

Bola draws her inspiration by closely observing artists that she admires; Oluwole Omofemi, Andy Warhol, Njideka Akunyili, and Marcellina Akpojotor.

Omoyeni Arogunmati

“The essence and beauty of womanhood should be better explored and celebrated.”

— Omoyeni Arogunmati

Omoyeni Arogunmati is an award-winning visual artist, and currently a board member of the Blkarthouse Artist Advisory Board.

Like most artists, her love for art can be traced to her childhood. Omoyeni is a graduate of Fine Arts from the Ibadan Polytechnic, Nigeria.

She expresses her art through a series of identical portraits which are painted in an impressionist style employing various degrees of abstraction. Her artwork reveals fundamental human emotions, exploits, and events - both exterior and intimate. She focuses closely on representing human facial gestures using abstraction and simplification, thus her work serves as a reference point for both impressionist and abstract art trends.

Omoyeni's works closely follow the trends of Carlos Delgado's "Faces of the System" collection, as they display comparable expressions in various facial moods. They are the emotional expression of her inspiration and experiences.

Omoyeni has been featured in many art blogs and magazines such as Artgence, MoMA news, Subo art magazine, Ynaija, Black Art Review, and also Canvas Africa Now magazine Dubai.

Throughout her career, she has been recipients of art awards. She just had her first solo exhibition and has also participated in several group exhibitions including:

2023 - Faces, People, Places. - a solo exhibition of Omoyeni Arogunmati (Nigeria)
2022 - I AM that I AM, Group Exhibition, Blue Gallery NYC, curated by Michael Hyman (USA)
2022 - Disrupted Online Art Exhibition in collaboration with Wo Foundation Curated by Sergio Gomez (USA)
2021 - Deux Ex Femina, Group Exhibition, Akka Project Dubai, (UAE)
2021 - What is Black Art” Juneteenth Exhibition, by BlkArthouse, Washington DC, (USA)
2021 - AKKA Project at Middle Eastern Galleries Now, AKKA Project
2021 - Art for Cancer - an exhibition of Contemporary Art, Didi Museum (Nigeria)
2020 - Art Residency 3*3*3 "Studio (Nigeria).
2020 - Letter of recommendation from the Consulate General of Brazil in Lagos (Nigeria)
2019 - October Rain (Nigeria)
2019 - First Prize Winner of ART GARDEN, organised by the Embassy of Hungary Trade office in Lagos (Nigeria)

Her works are permanently in the collection of Irish Embassy Abuja (Nigeria). She was also commissioned to create a work of Betty Holbeton.

With this participation in small & Iconic March 2023’s edition of women in arts, Omoyeni aims to further incite our senses as she captures her female characters and cityscapes in the unique way that she does.

Ejiro Fenegal

“Freedom is a choice. It begins with setting oneself free from the metaphorical prison of the mind.”

— Ejiro Fenegal

Ejiro Fenegal is a figurative sculptor based in Lagos, Nigeria.

Ejiro Fenegal is an up and coming sculptor, navigating her way through the world of art. Her origins can be traced to Ughelli South LGA in Delta State. She moved to Lagos for her tertiary education and has since been practicing at her private studio.

Ejiro attended the school of arts, design, and printing at the Yaba College of Technology. With an academic background in sculpture, her works involve modelling in clay which is then finished in Bronze and bonded stone.

Her sculptures stand as a connection between humans and the divine through her primary medium, appreciating the beauty and perfection of God’s creation.

Ejiro's works focus on the human body in all its forms, looks, and qualities. This is done by redressing the metaphorical prisons that entrap the human mind, such as fear, weakness, hate, unforgiveness, and more. She believes these feelings could be destructive to one’s existence if not dealt with. Her works are figurative with close attention paid to the expression of the body in all its splendour.

Some noteworthy accolades:

2022 - collaboration on Combat Soldiers commissioned to Ato Arinze by the National Security Adviser, Abuja
2020 - Zorya statue, Lagoon Restaurant, Lagos.
2019 - Higher National Diploma (HND) in sculpture.