Since October 11, 2025, the doors of Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art (YSMA), has been opened to the public and lovers of visual art at the Pan-Atlantic University Lagos.
The museum generously opened its doors for Collecting Now II, an enthralling exhibition worth seeing.
The exhibition, which runs until February 28, 2026, is the second chapter in YSMA’s ongoing series that explores the culture of art collecting in Nigeria, following the success of the inaugural Collecting Now in 2024.
At its heart, Collecting Now rests on the philosophy that collecting is not simply an act of ownership, but a form of cultural stewardship, an intimate yet public gesture of care that sustains artists, preserves heritage, and shapes how histories are remembered. Collectors are not merely keepers of objects but custodians of memory, mediators of taste, and patrons of the imagination. Through their choices, they inscribe personal experiences into broader cultural narratives, ensuring that Nigerian and African art continues to thrive and resonate across generations.
Collecting Now II gathers together the visions of six distinguished collectors: Tayo Odunsi, Bimpe Nkontchou, Ify Momah, Yemi Ogunbiyi, Nonso Okpala, and Olufemi Akinsanya. Their collections reveal a wide spectrum of approaches, from personal commissions and intergenerational dialogues to advocacy-driven acquisitions, diasporic narratives, and the preservation of traditional African art. Together, they form a living compendium of modern and contemporary Nigerian and African artistic practice, complemented by works that also speak across continental and diasporic boundaries.
With the sequel, YSMA warmly welcomes visitors into a space where art becomes both mirror and archive, reflecting the passions of individual collectors while preserving the shared heritage of our society. Through paintings, sculpture, photography, prints, and traditional forms, the exhibition offers not only visual pleasure but also intellectual provocation, asking us to consider the role of collecting in shaping the future of culture.
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In presenting Collecting Now II, YSMA affirms its commitment to art education and cultural dialogue, extending an invitation to scholars, students, collectors, and the wider public alike. This is more than an exhibition, it is a conversation across time, taste, and generations, a testament to the enduring power of collecting as an act of legacy, advocacy and preservation.
Speaking on the exhibition, Jess Castellote, director, Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art, Pan-Atlantic University, explained the second edition of Collecting Now, the museum’s annual exhibition series, followed the success of the inaugural edition last year.
According to him, Collecting Now 2: Evolving Views of Collecting Contemporary Art in Nigeria, is continuation of YSMA’s commitment to examining the role of collectors in shaping contemporary art in Nigeria.
“This year, we feature six collectors whose different visions, personal journeys, and inspirations offer insights into the landscape of Nigerian art. Their collections reflect the interplay of heritage, innovation, and cultural dialogue. We are particularly proud to include two women collectors whose contributions to the art ecosystem represent a shift toward greater inclusivity in art collecting. Their presence in this edition marks an important moment in the story of art collecting in Nigeria,” the museum director said.
The collectors featured in the exhibition, according to him, bring different perspectives to contemporary collecting in Nigeria. From nurturing emerging talent to preserving historical narratives, their collections are more than assemblages of artworks; they are archives of passion, purpose, and cultural stewardship. Each collector’s story, he noted, adds to the museum’s understanding of what it means to collect art in Nigeria today.
“This exhibition series exemplifies our belief that art is not only to be admired but also studied, questioned, and celebrated. Through initiatives like Collecting Now, we foster engagement between artists, collectors, scholars, and the public,” he concluded.
Collecting Now 11 is curated by Charles Udeh, while Solomon Nkwagu serves as project manager for the series. It runs from October 11, 2025 to February 28, 2026 at YSMA, Pan-Atlantic University Lagos.
