The Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art is pleased to announce The Invincible Hands exhibition opening from August 28, 2021 – January 18, 2022.
The intersection of art and culture has become the breeding ground for conversations that shape our culture in Nigeria. In an age where information lies at our fingertips, accessibility to the contributions of women in society is more apparent, however this has not always been the case. We ask ourselves, “in an era where the Zaria Rebels were making their mark, where were their female colleagues? Where are they now?” The ratio of male to female established artists in Nigeria continues to be strongly imbalanced, in favour of men.
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The Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art (YSMA), of the Pan-Atlantic University (PAU), wants to address this disproportion through an extensive art exhibition at the museum. The highly anticipated showcasing titled The Invincible Hands curated by Olufisayo Bakare, focuses on the contributions of 40 female artists whose works include a combination of paintings, photography, tapestry and textiles, sculpture, and mixed media art.
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Over 100 artworks will be on display, covering different periods and artistic media. They are curated from the permanent collection of the YSMA and from temporary loans by artists and collectors. In presenting these works, we highlight artistic achievements that transcend stereotyped and reductive achievements of Nigerian women in art.
The goal of this exhibition is to celebrate the influence of marginalized female Nigerian artists in the post-colonial and contemporary eras, amplify their work and bridge inequality gaps in the art sector by placing The Invincible Hands of female artists back into our art education and art history. It aims at being an active agent in giving these artists higher visibility.
Following the ‘Museum Opening of the Year Award’ in 2020, despite the lockdown constraints caused by the global pandemic, it is with an immense sense of gratitude that we look forward to welcoming you to our campus and museum facility soon. As work earnestly to complete plans for the upcoming exhibition, YSMA celebrates our community members for their unwavering support, expressing our gratitude to the sponsors, exhibiting artists, patrons, advisory board, and supervisory council.
The exhibition is made possible thanks to the generous support given by Kayode Adegbola, Tola Adesanmi, Demi Adewumi and Lakunle Runsewe. As plans continue in earnest, further details of the exhibition will be disclosed shortly.
About the Guest Curator
Olufisayo Bakare finds a rare balance between simplicity and African artistry in her work. Her keen interest in carving the phenomenal out of the familiar has inspired her curatorial practice by establishing her as an ally in the preservation, documentation, and representation of African culture. She diligently curates the works of indigenous and Pan-African artists and maker-communities by recognizing and challenging some of the most poignant topics in the arts and culture ecosystem. In line with connecting varied dialogues through an exchanging of ideas, Olufisayo reassesses histories and their underpinned symbology. Her passion for travel, anthropology, and culture have given her a platform to curate exhibitions, document societal experiences, and actualize site-specific installations within the creative sector and art world.
About the Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art, Pan-Atlantic University
The Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art (YSMA) of Pan-Atlantic University is an educational museum at the service of the university and the whole community. At the centre of YSMA’s mission is a desire to help audiences learn about art and through art. Our educational programmes are a central component to achieve this objective. We believe that artworks, besides allowing viewers to experience multiple forms of beauty, meaning and skill, can also be an excellent educational resource to help persons of all ages e ngage, discover, and learn about the history and culture of Nigeria.
Important Information for Media
Exhibition Dates
VIP Preview Day (by invitation only)
August 28, 2021
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Press Contacts
Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art
Aghogho Edemadide
[email protected]
+234-901-178-1585
hhttps://museum.pau.edu.ng/exhibitions/the-invincible-hands
Statement from Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art Regarding Coronavirus
At a time of great global concern and uncertainty, The Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art is closely monitoring the evolving situation with the coronavirus. Our hearts go out to those directly affected. As the safety of our exhibitors and guests remains a top priority, we will continue to safeguard the 2021 exhibition. As of now, businesses are open and operating as normal in Lagos, however there is a curfew between 12am – 4am. The exhibition will take place as planned and looks forward to opening its doors next week for its 2nd edition. For the safety of our staff and visitors, we ask that you follow the COVID-19 protocols while you are on our premises.
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