The SMOG Art Exhibition 2025 is slated for the 4th of May, 2025, at Odilin’s Event Centre at 2pm. It’s an event that champions “Art For A Cause” because SMOG ties this initiative to social development and community empowerment.

Showcasing Artists and Sneak Peaks

Different people love different works of art. And an art exhibition should offer people an explorative tour through the myriad of art forms and styles contemporarily available. With this in mind, the organizers at Street Made Of Gold NGO have made sure to pull together a varied list of artists who bring fresh and varied tastes to the gallery. Here’s a list of some of the artists who will be showcasing their works at the SMOG Art Exhibition and a sneak peak at some of their works:

• Barris A. Adenle:

Adenle will be displaying some of his most captivating works such as “Musical Rhythms Entertainers”. His dynamic compositions and rhythmic arrangement of shapes and lines often draws comparisons with the renowned Jacob Lawrence. But Adenle brings a distinctive tribal touch with textural elements that create a visually thought-provoking experience. Here’s a sneak peak below:

• Edward Yali:

Sometimes described as the African sibling to Ernie Barnes because of his focus on movement and composition, Edward has a keen eye for detail loves the use of bright contrasting colours against textured backgrounds to create a sense of depth and excitement. Here’s a sneak peak of his works below:

• Gabriel Pam

Gabriel loves to explore form and texture in a way that’s both intriguing and mysterious. His works remind one of the Giorgio Morandi with his still life paintings or they invoke the memory of John James Audubon with his focus on the beauty of life, wildlife, and imaginative sceneries. With impressive brushstrokes, Gabriel’s patient and observant nature is able to skillfully translate the beauty of the natural world onto canvas. Here’s a sneak peak at his works:

• Ike John:

If you love the works of Diego Rivera then you’re sure to love the works of Ike. Just like Rivera enjoys depicting Mexican life and culture in his murals, so also does Ike for his African/Nigerian heritage. As an artist he has a deep respect for his subjects, adding a touch of dreaminess to his scenes that capture dignity and grace in a way that’s both realistic and evocative. Here’s a sneak peak below:

• Joni Otunehe:

Otunehe is so renowned for his vibrant portraits and use of bold colours and stylized forms that most people believe he could someday match (or maybe surpass) Kadir Nelson. His expressive style using strong outlines, swirling patterns, and geometric shapes set him apart when it comes to exploring themes of identity and perception. His works are simply surreal. Here’s a sneak peak:

• Kopbam Gochuk P

Kopbam has also been deemed the “expressionist painter” for his elongated figures and dramatic use of colour that draw comparisons to the great El Greco. Kopbam loves exploring themes of human expression and interaction, and a mixture of colours that create a sense of energy and movement. He always brings a unique sense of sensibility to his works that could be rendered in semi-abstract styles. Here’s a sneak peak:

• Declan Nuwang (Nology)

When it comes to sculpture works, no one does it better. Declan dabbles in terracotta sculptures that are reminiscent of the early works of Auguste Adin, and he also dabbles in ceramic art that remind of the works of Lucie Rie. Declan’s works showcase an aesthetic dialogue between elegant forms, contrasting textures and vibrant colour. Here’s a sneak peak:

• Richard James

Bold patterns, decorative backgrounds and juxtaposition of figures are the strengths of the famous Frida Kahlo, and we find these same strengths in the works of Richard James. He brings a unique visual language that carry emotional intensity and symbolic use of imagery. His compositions are usually filled with intricate details of cloth patterns, surrounding foliage, and themes about human connection. Here’s a sneak peak:

• Ukeni Christiana

Ukeni’s works are so visually arresting that they evoke the viewer into the emotional state of the theme; whether it be romantic, inner peace, external turmoil, loss, the passage of time, etc. She has a way of painting a narrative by using the interplay of figures that demonstrate a strong command of colour and composition. Her works draw comparisons to those of J.M.W. Turner and René Magritte but with a more personal resonance feel to them. Here’s a sneak peak:

• Wonder Doug

Wonder is an artist known for his unsettling and dream-like scenes, just like those of surrealist artist Giorgio de Chirico. He explores sensitive themes such as control, loss of autonomy, and complex religious concepts. His works are often a powerful commentary on the human condition that employ stark contrasts or effects like the chiaroscuro effect. Wonder brings a contemporary sensibility to his work that invite personal reflection. Here’s a sneak peak:

• Remchi Vhice Vigs

Remchi seeks to distill the complexity of life in an expressionistic and expressive forms that evoke the sense of freedom and and spontaneity, encouraging viewers to tap into their own creative potential. Known for his critically acclaimed works such as “The Sisters” and “Innocence”, Remchi’s works are often compared to the likes of Lynette Yiadom-Boakye because of timeless depictions of Black figures and sceneries. Here’s a sneak peak:

• Yemi Alamu

Wood carving has been an old form of art practiced by our forefathers. Yemi is an artist who stays true to ancestral heritage by invoking a sense of tradition and storytelling in craftsmanship. Yemi is also a bold artist who experiments with form and colour to create distinctive visual experiences. Some of Yemi’s works, which use geometric patterns to depict faces or masks, bring to mind the later works of Pablo Picasso. Yemi has a visual vocabulary that feels contemporary but still rooted in cultural and symbolic traditions. Here’s a sneak peak:

How Will The Auction Take Place

During the Art Exhibition Event, a time will be slated for the auctioning of the art works showcased. The SMOG art exhibition auction process will proceed in a similar manner as regular auction processes are conducted. This follows that a piece of artwork will be selected and brought to the forefront. The auctioneer will state the starting bid amount and then attendees will place their bids, rising higher until it gets to a point where there is no counter bid to the last bid. After the window for placing a counter bid elapses, the artwork gets sold to the incumbent bidder.

To make the auction process more flexible for persons who could not be at the Art Exhibition Event in person, Street Made Of Gold has decided to permit the placement of bids online.

If you are reading this blog post then this means that you have already seen the previous segment which speaks about the artists and the works they will be showcasing at the SMOG Art Exhibition. If you have any interest in buying any of the artists’ works, then call +08035976462 to place your bid or make further enquiries.