Contemporary African Art is and has been having its moment. We’ve watched our revered art masters
garner admiration globally alongside younger artists with fresh perspectives and styles. This global
appreciation mirrors a welcomed emergence of local contemporary art galleries and art fairs promoting
African talents from the continent and the diaspora.
To sustain this growth in our local market, it’s essential to design a dynamic art scene that fosters diversity, accessibility, and representation. Fresco, a Lagos-based contemporary art gallery, aims to address these aspects without compromising on the expected quality, authenticity, and intentionality in art. Our approach involves integrating limited-edition prints and edition-making into our core ethos, presenting printmaking not as a separate entity but as an integral part of an artist’s broader practice.
Nigeria has a rich printmaking legacy, with celebrated masters like Sir Bruce Onabrakpeya and Professor Christopher Uchefuna Okeke who continue to exhibit globally, shaping the narrative around printmaking in Africa. The Harmattan Workshop, spearheaded by Sir Bruce Onabrakpeya, serves as a cornerstone for young artists to learn various technical printmaking techniques and more.
Lino Cut Print
Courtesy of Hourglass Gallery
Shifting focus beyond Nigeria, prints enjoy widespread acceptance and collectibility in international markets. They serve as a bridge to engage new collectors, expand an artist’s reach, and preserve their artistic legacy. According to the 2023 Artsy Art Collector Insight report, prints and multiples rank as the third most collected medium after paintings and sculptures. Moreover, renowned galleries have launched print publishing-focused entities, such as Hauser & Wirth Editions and Utopia Editions by David Zwirner.
Print edition in collaboration with Avant Arte
Image courtesy of the Artist
Beyond the economic benefits of selling mutliples, printmaking offers artists the ability to document their process uniquely, while providing collectors and art lovers with fresh avenues for exploration. Fresco seeks to expand perceptions of African art and widen the pool of African art collectors, at home and beyond.
Lino cut on paper
Image courtesy of the Artist
Its recent exhibition, “Young Contemporary Printmakers,” showcased during the 2023 Lagos Art Week, spotlighted emerging Nigerian printmakers Yadichinma Ukoha-Kalu, Tosin Oyeniyi, Nneka Chima, Wanger Ayu, and Nkem Okwechime. The exhibit featured an array of printmaking techniques, including screenprint, lino-cut prints, drypoint, and additive plastography. Prints are an excellent way for new collectors to dip their toes into buying and for seasoned collectors to discover new mediums and diversify their collections. Establishments like Fresco, the Bruce Onabrakpeya Foundation / Harmattan Workshop, and other print shops and publishers play a pivotal role in celebrating and validating this medium. For Fresco, the Young Contemporary Printamkers exhibit is only the first of many initiatives to champion, include, and serve this purpose.
the practice.
Images courtesy of the Artist
Fresco’s “Young Contemporary Printmakers” exhibition, running from Oct. 28 – Nov. 5, 2023, was a part of the ArtX Lagos Art Week calendar. For inquiries, visit thefrescogallery.com or reach out to the Gallery team at contact@thefrescogallery.com.
Ima Ekpo is a dynamic entrepreneur who is passionate about contemporary art and the promotion of Nigerian art. As the Founder and Gallerist of Fresco, a contemporary art gallery based in Lagos, Nigeria, and operating online, Ima is committed to inspiring a new generation of African art collectors and promoting print-making in contemporary Nigerian art.
In addition to her work at Fresco, Ima is a marketing leader in the Technology and Logistics sector. She holds an M.A. in Public Relations and Image Management from the Newhouse School of Communications, Syracuse University, New York.
