Join us at G.A.S. Lagos on December 19th for Primitive Hypertext, a presentation and hands-on workshop in collaborative storytelling and printing, led by current resident, Avery Youngblood. This event will highlight Avery's residency research which has explored how obsolete technologies influence contemporary creative practices and the interplay between memory, archives, and interconnected ways of thinking. 

This December, we are thrilled to host our final resident of the year, Nigerian multidisciplinary artist Mobolaji Ogunrosoye, as she undertakes a two-week research fellowship at G.A.S. Lagos. Known for a distinct visual language that intersects photography and collage, Mobolaji's practice critically delves into themes of selfhood, body image, and the societal forces that shape identity in West African women both on the continent and in the diaspora. A central focus of her current research is investigating how transparent materials can be used as innovative tools in collage-making. By incorporating these materials, Mobolaji seeks to add new layers of meaning, depth, and dimensionality to her work, pushing the boundaries of traditional collage techniques while exploring the interplay between opacity, translucence, and the stories embedded within her compositions.

This autumn, the G.A.S. Foundation hosted residencies in Lagos and Ibadan for artists Shabu Mwangi, Liz Kobusinge, Theophilus Imani, Kosisochukwu Nnebe, Ofem Ubi, Avery Youngblood, and Osei Bonsu. Their practices—spanning painting, sculpture, eco-printing, and visual research—engaged with themes of postcolonial histories, cultural memory, and social change. These residencies culminated in a series of public events that showcased their diverse creative inquiries, with each artist offering a unique perspective through their work.

Guest Artists Space Foundation (G.A.S.) in partnership with the Yinka Shonibare Foundation (Y.S.F.) is thrilled to announce the third edition of the prestigious G.A.S. Fellowship Award. This year, two fully-funded six-week residencies at G.A.S. Lagos are being offered to outstanding mid-career professionals based and actively working on the African continent: one residency for a mid-career visual fine artist and one residency for a mid-career curator.

Join us at G.A.S. Lagos on December 13th, 2024 for Functions of Humor, a talk and writing workshop led by two-time G.A.S. resident Ofem Ubi, alongside acclaimed Nigerian-British artist, film director, photographer, and poet Joladé Olusanya. This event will spotlight Ofem Ubi’s recent research into the transformative power of humor and share how his residency at the G.A.S. Farm House in Ijebu influenced his creative journey, enriching his exploration of humor’s role in navigating adversity. Together with the audience, he hopes to examine its role as a near-universal coping mechanism amidst societal and economic challenges such as rising insecurity and inflation whilst questioning whether it is in fact, a finite resource.

As we near the close of another dynamic year filled with programming and residencies, we’re thrilled to share upcoming and current exhibitions and presentations by our G.A.S. alumni. By the end of 2024, the Foundation will have hosted 71 residents since programming launched in May 2022, and we’re excited to continue following the inspiring journeys of our alumni.

Join us at G.A.S. Lagos on December 4th 2024 for Building Artists Estates and Legacies, an afternoon of discussion led by current resident and Curator of International Art at Tate Modern, Osei Bonsu, alongside key representatives from the estates of Nigeria’s modernist pioneers. This event will bring together representatives from the estates of the Zaria Art Society (1958–1961), a collective that ushered in a new Nigerian artistic expression, rejecting the curriculum and pedagogy of British colonial education. The Zaria Art Society, founded by visionary artists Uche Okeke, Demas Nwoko, Bruce Onobrakpeya, and Yusuf Grillo, challenged the colonial frameworks of art education, asserting their cultural identity and reimagining the possibilities of artistic practice.

Earlier this month, we had the pleasure of welcoming Osei Bonsu, a British-Ghanaian curator, writer, and art historian, to G.A.S. Lagos for his residency. Based between London and Paris, Osei is the Curator of International Art at Tate Modern, where he works to expand the representation of African and global diaspora artists through exhibitions, collection displays, public programs, and publications.

The earth-brick barn house nestled among cassava and yam fields in southern Nigeria is one of two artists’ residences established by the British-Nigerian artist.