Nigeria is rich in art culture that seems yet to be fully tapped. The art culture covers both traditions and styles, ancient paintings, sculpture and modern installations. However, from history, some art pieces have been outstanding and these include:
Tutu by Ben Enwonwu
As the Mona Lisa painting is to Leonardo Da Vinci, so is Tutu to Ben Enwonwu. Tutu is a portrait of an Ife princess. The Tutu painting gained popularity after the original was discovered in a London home, a long while after it was declared lost.
Ankara Na-Nma by Clement Mmaduako Nwafor
Created by a self-taught painter, the little girl in Ankara headgear is another famous painting. The painter, Clement Mmaduako Nwafor is known for painting women as he incorporates pieces of fabric into the canvas.
Adam and Eve by Aina Onabolu
This iconic art piece painted by Aina Onabolu, grew to become one of the images of new craftsmanship in Nigeria. The Ijebu-Ode born painter was born in 1882. He was the first Western-trained portrait artist in Nigeria who was also the forerunner of art education in the country.
There was a time by Patrick Akpojoto
Patrick Akpojoto’s type of art was made up of paintings and drawings using real-life elements of irregular shapes and dimensions. ‘There Was a Time’ was one of his popular art pieces that combined visual elements such as bricks, nails, benches etc. Though abstract, a closer look shows you a man with hunchback writing.
Motion in Blue by Sam Ebohon
This painting is more recent than the others on the list. Painted in 2015, Motion In Blue showed the creativity of Ebohon. In this painting, just like his other unique pieces, he uses kinetic brushwork to create this blurry effect that not only reveals a masterpiece but also shields it in another way.