On December 19th, G.A.S. Lagos hosted Primitive Hypertext, an engaging presentation and hands-on workshop led by resident Avery Youngblood. The event offered a unique blend of history, creativity, and collaboration, focusing on Avery’s exploration of storytelling and printmaking. The evening began with an introduction to the Riso machine, a tool central to Avery’s exploration of printmaking. Attendees observed the intricate process of testing and refining prints, providing a fascinating prelude to the evening's discussions on communal language-making through print.

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.

On December 13th, G.A.S. Lagos hosted 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. The event began with a presentation in which Ofem spoke on humor’s transformative power, drawing from his eight-week residency at the G.A.S. Farm House in Ijebu. He explored how humor functions as a 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.

On December 4, 2024, G.A.S. Lagos hosted Building Artists’ Estates and Legacies, an insightful afternoon of discussions led by then-resident Osei Bonsu, Curator of International Art at Tate Modern, alongside key representatives from the estates of Nigeria’s modernist pioneers. The event began with an introduction by Osei, who outlined its purpose: to bring together representatives of the estates of the Zaria Art Society (1958–1961)—a pioneering generation that reshaped artistic representation in Nigeria founded by visionary artists such as Uche Okeke, Demas Nwoko, Bruce Onobrakpeya, Yusuf Grillo, and others. Osei also framed the event within the broader context of his residency at G.A.S. Lagos, which serves as a critical research phase for the forthcoming Tate Modern exhibition Nigerian Modernism: 1945–1975.

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.

In 2024, Yinka Shonibare Foundation and Guest Artists Space Foundation initiated a partnership with Yale University, marking their first collaboration with the Yale School of Art. Through a highly competitive call and rigorous selection process, this initiative offers the selected artist a fully funded residency, covering flight, local travel, and materials. The first artist chosen for this residency is Avery Youngblood, who will join the Guest Artists Space Foundation at its Lagos center for a six-week residency.