Nike Art Centre, Lagos, is one of Nigeria’s hidden treasures, an art gallery owned by Nike Davies-Okundaye. The gallery is arguably the largest of its kind in West Africa.
Located at Ikate, bus stop 2 Oba Yekini Elegushi Rd, Lekki Phase I, Lekki, Lagos, the four-story building compromises of an art gallery, a Coffee shop, a textile museum featuring over 7,000 pieces. Coffee shop. The pieces are on sale with prices, with some costing up to millions.
The Centre has a diverse collection of art by a multitude of artists, celebrating Nigeria’s talent, offering visitors an insight into all cultures of Nigeria through the medium of art. It can take up to a full day to discover all the Nike Art Gallery has to offer.
The gallery is free to enter, and open 10 a.m to 6 p.m Monday – Saturdays and 1 p.m – 6 p.m on sundays, often holding art exhibitions, workshops and cultural days. If you’re feeling creative you can take an art course with Nike or go on one of her week-long retreats outside of Lagos in Osun state (Osogbo), Kogi state (Ogidi) and Abuja, all of which you can visit with ‘Nike Tours’.
The tours offer overnight accommodation at her guesthouses, and partake in creating traditional African crafts such as adire, batik, indigo, beadwork, painting, or carving. Whether you are a specialist in the arts or just a curious soul interested in the different cultures around the world, Nike offers the opportunity to experience Nigeria with a fresh perspective. A visit to the gallery is sure to get your mind racing.
