Young Contemporaries

The Young Contemporaries program, founded in 2016, identifies, mentors and promotes a new generation of talent by equipping them with tools and resources to advance their artistic development. Each one of the artists possesses a unique voice, eye and message and are creating works that address urgent, topical issues. This exhibition features five artists, one from each year of Young Contemporaries from 2016 - 2020, Dipo Doherty, REWA, Yasser, Tonia Nneji and Ameh Egwuh. 

Summer Splash (2019) by Dipo DohertyRele Arts Foundation

Dipo Doherty 

Dipo Doherty (2016 Young Contemporary) is an artist, engineer, and entrepreneur, Dipo seeks to define a vocabulary in his work that unites his African heritage and scientific background; a socio-scientific synthesis, with the human body being at the centre-point of his practice. Doherty has interpreted the human anatomy in his own ideology, increasing its dimensionality in abstraction in his paintings, while expanding his visual language to other forms of media that reference socio-economic issues, and scientific parallels in the highly dynamic, and multi-cultural fabric of the world today. 

Shards (2019) by Dipo DohertyRele Arts Foundation

Beetle Arugula (2019) by Dipo DohertyRele Arts Foundation

Morning's Dose (2019) by Dipo DohertyRele Arts Foundation

Josephine and her dress of many colours (2019) by REWARele Arts Foundation

Umu Ada

REWA (2017 Young Contemporary) artwork represents and glorifies women in numerous forms; as goddesses, travellers and most recently, as inexorable forces behind naming rites of the Igbo culture.Her featured series ‘Umu Ada’ which means native daughters of common male ancestors or "daughters of the soil", is a collective term for all first daughters and is formed from two Igbo words: Umu and Ada. REWA hopes to give viewers an education and understanding of who Igbo women are as a group. 

Somadina in response (2019) by REWARele Arts Foundation

Nnuku Nwanne Obele Nwanne (2019) by REWARele Arts Foundation

Cool Kats II (2019) by YasserRele Arts Foundation

Yasser 

Yasser (2018 Young Contemporary), is a multi-disciplinary artist, who draws inspiration from his multi-cultural heritage. He infuses the pieces of the different nationalities and cultures into his work, creating multifaceted paintings on antique and vintage traditional fabrics. 

Matan Sarkin Katsina (2020) by YasserRele Arts Foundation

I Know This Fabric Well (2019) by YasserRele Arts Foundation

OKOSISI II (2019) by Tonia NnejiRele Arts Foundation

Tonia Nneji

Tonia Nneji (2019 Young contemporary) artistic expression is inspired by her experience as a female living with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). She intentionally uses bold colours and patterns to debunk a culture of silence; speaking audaciously about the trauma experienced as a result of her medical condition. She explores the themes of selflessness, mental health and particularly the challenges female encounter with their health conditions. 

OKOSISI (2019) by Tonia NnejiRele Arts Foundation

While We Wait 4 (2019) by Tonia NnejiRele Arts Foundation

While We Wait 3 (2019) by Tonia NnejiRele Arts Foundation

Long Break (2020) by Ameh EgwuhRele Arts Foundation

Ameh Egwuh

Ameh Egwuh (2020 Young Contemporary) is a painter  whose work is a representation of his thoughts, feelings, opinion and commentary on issues happening around him. Fascinated by lines, Ameh is influenced by his African roots and different art movements, styles and cultures. He draws inspiration from the Adinkra and Nsibidi art signs and symbols, and the scarification of Ife art.

The Old Rules (2020) by Ameh EgwuhRele Arts Foundation

Lost In Thought (2020) by Ameh EgwuhRele Arts Foundation

Quiet Time (2020) by Ameh EgwuhRele Arts Foundation

Credits: Story

Dipo Doherty
REWA
Yasser
Tonia Nneji
Ameh Egwuh

Rele Arts Foundation | Rele Gallery
Onikan, Lagos, Nigeria

For more information visit www.rele.co

Exhibit created by
Rele Gallery | Rele Arts Foundation

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
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