G.A.S. Foundation is delighted to welcome Eva-Maria Bertschy for an immersive two-week residency this January. Based in Switzerland, Eva-Maria is a playwright, dramaturg, and director known for her innovative approach to documentary and political music theater. As a co-founder of GROUP50:50, her practice sits at the intersections of theater, political activism, and material histories, delving into colonial legacies, globalization, and the complex ties between Europe and Africa. Her work bridges historical narratives with contemporary issues, fostering dialogue and transformation through artistic collaboration and performance.

A residency extends beyond the studio, shaping how artists engage with their surroundings. The following is a selection of contacts and resources to support residents as they navigate their stay in Nigeria. Covering art and culture, lifestyle services, news, beauty, and shopping, this list provides essential information to help residents connect with the local creative landscape and access key services during their time in the program.

As part of their G.A.S. Foundation residency, residents have the opportunity to book interstate excursions during their stay for an additional fee. These trips are designed to provide a change of scenery, support creative exploration, and offer an opportunity to connect with the broader cultural and natural landscapes of the South-West region of Nigeria.

Nigerian cuisine is traditionally meat-heavy, but Lagos has a few vegan-friendly takeout and eat-in options to explore. This directory lists restaurants and delivery services that offer plant-based meals. Many mainstream restaurants are also happy to modify dishes upon request. Foods that can be easily made vegan include moimoi (steamed bean pudding), akara (fried bean fritters), vegetable stews, and rice-based dishes. Plantains and sweet potatoes are always a delicious, animal-free choice enjoyed by all.

Earlier this week, we had the pleasure of welcoming Nathalie Eggenschwiler, an independent Swiss designer, to G.A.S. Lagos for her residency. Based in Zurich, Nathalie’s multifaceted practice spans textiles, fashion, craft, and design. She approaches her work through a multidisciplinary lens, blending research and creativity to challenge traditional practices and explore sustainable approaches to design.

On Saturday, 30th November 2024, G.A.S. Lagos, in collaboration with 9H Media and Open House Lagos, hosted the ‘7 Speakers 7 Minutes’ lecture series as part of the Open House Lagos Festival 2024. This event celebrated the theme ‘Women in Design & Art,’ showcasing the diverse contributions of female creatives in the local design and culture scene. Seven accomplished women from fields including architecture, visual arts, photography, filmmaking, and multidisciplinary design delivered seven-minute presentations, offering first-hand insights into their work and perspectives.

G.A.S. Foundation is thrilled to welcome Bisila Noha, our first resident of 2025. A ceramic artist, researcher, and writer based in London, Bisila’s practice explores the intersections of heritage, craft, and community. Through her work, she seeks to challenge Western perspectives on art and craft, using ceramics as a medium to question societal notions of productivity, value, and tradition. Her practice spans wheel-thrown pieces adorned with marbled slip decoration, creating abstract landscapes, to sculptural works that blend throwing, coiling, and carving, connecting her to her roots, the makers who preceded her, and our collective past

In early May 2024, curators E.N. Mirembe, Jesse Mpango, and Rosie Olang’ Odhiambo led a series of workshops across Kampala, Dar es Salaam, and Nairobi in collaboration with British-Ghanaian artist and filmmaker Larry Achiampong. These workshops, developed as part of the Art Exchange: Moving Image programme, were conceptualised in partnership with Achiampong following a meeting between the artist and the curatorial cohort during the programme's London residency week in December 2023.

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.

In conclusion of her research residency at G.A.S. Lagos, Mobolaji Ogunrosoye hosted an intimate, female-centered dinner and film screening of Black Girl (1966), the groundbreaking work by Senegalese director, producer, and writer Ousmane Sembène. Adapted from a short story in Sembène’s 1962 collection Voltaique, the film narrates the poignant tale of Diouana, a young Senegalese woman who moves to Antibes, France, as a nanny for a wealthy family. Her dreams of a cosmopolitan life are shattered as she finds herself confined to the role of a domestic servant, enduring mistreatment from her employers.

On December 12th, Yinka Shonibare Foundation hosted its annual Patrons & Alumni Winter Soirée at Autograph, London, celebrating the Spirit of Lagos exhibition, co-curated by Autograph Senior Curator, Bindi Vora, and G.A.S. alumni, Lagos Studio Archives (a curatorial collective consisting of Karl Ohiri and Riikka Kassinen).

The soirée began with an insightful guided tour of Spirit of Lagos by Senior Curator Bindi Vora, illuminating the exhibition’s nuanced portrayal of Lagos as a city of contrasts—dynamic, layered, and deeply inspiring. Guests were then treated to an engaging walkthrough of Rotimi Fani-Kayode: The Studio – Staging Desire, led by Autograph’s Director, Professor Mark Sealy, offering a reflective lens on Fani-Kayode’s groundbreaking exploration of desire, identity, and self-fashioning. The evening concluded with festive drinks and light refreshments, fostering meaningful dialogue between Patrons, Trustees, and alumni, alongside the Foundation’s Founder, Yinka Shonibare CBE RA. This gathering exemplified the collaborative spirit underpinning our residencies, championing art as a vehicle for critical reflection and cultural exchange.