Access Holdings Plc and Coronation Group have hosted an exclusive reception at Tate Modern, London, to celebrate the global success and enduring legacy of the Nigerian Modernism exhibition—one of the most significant showcases of African art in the gallery’s recent history.
Held in honour of the landmark exhibition, the private event brought together influential figures from business, diplomacy, academia, and the arts to reflect on its cultural and international impact.
The Nigerian Modernism exhibition, staged at Tate Modern from October 10, 2025, to May 8, 2026, featured nearly 300 works by over 50 artists, spanning five decades of Nigeria’s artistic evolution. Through paintings, sculptures, textiles, ceramics, and works on paper, the exhibition traced the development of modern Nigerian art from the 1940s through the post-independence era.
Over the course of its run, the exhibition attracted more than 180,000 visitors, while its global reach extended far beyond the gallery through international media coverage, digital platforms, and academic engagement—connecting millions worldwide to Nigeria’s rich artistic heritage.
Beyond its artistic significance, the exhibition was widely praised for expanding access to African art, particularly among young people and members of the African diaspora. Educational programmes and guided tours created meaningful opportunities for deeper engagement with African identity, creativity, and history.
Speaking at the reception, Chairman of Access Holdings and Coronation Group, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, highlighted the exhibition’s transformative impact on young audiences.
“One of the most powerful outcomes of this exhibition was the opportunity it created for nearly 2,800 students—many of African heritage—to experience Tate Modern. For many, it sparked a deeper connection to their identity and pride in their roots,” he said.
He also emphasised the broader diplomatic and cultural significance of the initiative, noting that cultural capital plays a vital role in shaping national identity and global perception.
Aig-Imoukhuede referenced the visit of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the exhibition during his trip to London as a defining moment that underscored the role of culture in strengthening international engagement and national pride.
Also speaking, Tate Modern’s Interim Director, Karin Hindsbo, described the exhibition as a groundbreaking achievement that reshaped narratives around African modernism.
“This was a story never before told in a UK gallery—an extraordinary network of artists whose works combined African and European traditions to create a powerful artistic legacy,” she said, acknowledging the critical role played by Access Holdings and Coronation Group in bringing the exhibition to life.
A major highlight of the exhibition was the display of seven historic wooden sculptures by renowned Nigerian artist Ben Enwonwu, originally commissioned in 1960 and now part of the Access Holdings Art Collection—symbolising the importance of cultural preservation and cross-institutional collaboration.
Widely regarded as a landmark moment in contemporary museum practice, Nigerian Modernism challenged established art historical narratives by firmly positioning Nigerian artists within the global story of twentieth-century modernism.
Although the exhibition has concluded, stakeholders at the reception agreed that its legacy will continue to shape global conversations around African art, identity, and cultural diplomacy—cementing its place as a defining moment for Nigerian creativity on the world stage.
