Adegbola Gallery is proud to present Zaria Rebels at @expochicago .
Formed in 1958, the Zaria Art Society proposed a radical shift that redefined the trajectory of modern art in Nigeria. Rejecting imposed conventions, they advanced a philosophy later termed Natural Synthesis: a framework rooted in the integration of indigenous knowledge and contemporary practice.
Bringing together works by Demas Nwoko, Uche Okeke, Yusuf Grillo, Bruce Onobrakpeya, Oseloka Osadebe, Jimoh Akolo, and Clara Ugbodaga-Ngu, this presentation revisits Zaria as an enduring mode of artistic reasoning that continues to shape contemporary artistic thought.
Booth 213
April 9–12, 2026
To request a preview: [email protected]
#AdegbolaGallery #ZariaArtSociety
We’re pleased with the inclusion of our founder Kayode Adegbola among the 10 patrons and advocates featured in the prestigious Apollo 40 2026.
This year, the patrons have been featured for steering the conversation about what art-making will look like in decades to come.
#KayodeAdegbola #Apollo40 #AdegbolaGallery #TheApolloMagazine
“I have a theory that Wizkid and Burna Boy are who they are today because they were first well known at home,” Kayode Adegbola (@kayodea ) told Observer from his home in #Lagos.
It is the mindset with which the lawyer, collector and cultural entrepreneur has been supporting artists through his curatorial and advisory platform @adegbola.art over the past 15 years while also helping to build Nigeria’s arts infrastructure.
Head to the link in our bio to read more
Attending EXPO Chicago? Check out our booths not to be missed!
Presenting a historical collection of Nigerian modernists, Adegbola gallery showcases artists from the Zaria Art Society.
Founded in 1958 at the Nigerian College of Arts, Science and Technology (now Ahmadu Bello University), was a pivotal group of Nigerian artists who rejected European-centric art education in favor of “Natural Synthesis.”
Led by figures like Uche Okeke and Bruce Onobrakpeya, they blended indigenous visual traditions—such as Uli and Nok art—with modern techniques to forge a new Nigerian identity before independence.
A gentle reminder that while the Art historical canon has not platformed these works the way it should have, these artists were working in spite of an oppressive system that sought to marginalize their creative genius.
#expochicago #nigeria #nigerianmodernism #artoftheday #modernart
We’re pleased to present Zaria Rebels at Expo Chicago.
Pay us a visit at Adegbola Gallery (Booth 213) to experience a presentation of works by Demas Nwoko, Uche Okeke, Yusuf Grillo, Bruce Onobrakpeya, Oseloka Osadebe, Jimoh Akolo, and Clara Ugbodaga-Ngu.
These are artists whose practices emerged from the radical ideas of the Zaria Art Society.
Working across drawing, printmaking, and painting, the presentation reflects on the meeting point between indigenous visual languages and modern artistic expression.
Expo Chicago
Booth 213
April 9–12, 2026
Join us as we revisit a defining moment in Nigerian modernism and its continued resonance today.
#AdegbolaGallery #ExpoChicago #ZariaRebels
From time to time, I come across an artist whose work I’m really taken with. Aaron Kudi was one of those. Not long after, I went to spend time in his studio to see how the work actually comes together. He paints on the floor, using some of the most interesting mark-making tools. Born in Bauchi and raised in Devon, you can feel both in the work. After a second studio visit, I can say the work reveals itself over time, much like the artist.
