Adenrele Sonariwo: Championing New Artistic Voices

Adenrele Sonariwo is a Nigerian art curator and gallerist. She is the founder of Rele Arts Foundation and Rele Art Gallery in Lagos, Nigeria, from where she champions emerging and established contemporary African artists. Adenrele was the lead curator of the first Nigerian pavilion at the 57th Venice Biennale in 2017.

Since 2015, Adenrele Sonariwo has supported thirty emerging artists with training and advice through the initiative The Young Contemporaries program. Rele Art gallery hosts an annual exhibition celebrating their work.

Here Adenrele Sonariwo tells us why Lagos is so exciting.

Describe your creative journey and how you got to where you are today?
My creative journey has had its up and down, but I’m truly grateful to be living in times where the work we do is understood and appreciated. Passion, hard work and consistency have gotten me to where I am today.

What is the most defining moment in your career?
Curating the first Nigerian Pavilion at the Venice Biennale in 2017.

What is different about your approach to exhibiting artists?
I believe that the young voice is really important, so what that meant was we wanted to identify young artists that were creating with whatever medium it was, and we wanted to be able to give a platform to be able to exhibit and to be able to show their work.

How are you continuing to support young artists in this space?
We have a programme called the Young Contemporaries, which identifies and promotes and mentors about six young artists every year. My mission really was to trigger a new appreciation in this space. So getting more people to follow Nigerian artists, to appreciate it, to collect it, and to engage with it.

What is the best piece of advice you have received, and what advice would you give to someone starting out in the industry today?
Think long term, nothing good comes easy. Be authentic, the world will adapt.

Describe Lagos in three words?
Dynamic, vibrant and cultural.

Who are the most exciting creatives in Lagos at the moment (in fashion, music, film, literature, food and art)?
There are so many at the moment, but I’d have to say, Tems for music, Arie Esiri and Chuko Esiri for film, Ope Adedeji for literature, Chef Micheal Elegbede, KitchenButterFly and Chef Eros for food. The Rele Young Contemporaries artists are worth watching out for, in particular Chidinma Nnoli, Jonathan Chambalin, Ameh Egwuh, Kingsley Ayogu and Judith Daduth.

If you were to show the ‘best of Lagos’ to someone who has never been, what would the day look like?
It’ll be all about the art, culture and food in between. Artists studios and galleries, and sampling various restaurants - upscale and local spots.

What can the world learn from Nigeria?
The importance of harnessing and preserving culture. There's a huge part of a nations identity for which the rest of the world sees.