Uzo Njoku Set to Debut First African Exhibition in Lagos

Mary Nnah

Nigerian-American visual artist and designer, Uzo Njoku, is gearing up to showcase her highly anticipated homecoming exhibition, “An Owambe Exhibition by Uzo Njoku”, in Lagos.

This exhibition marks a significant milestone in Njoku’s career, bringing her vibrant and textured artworks to her hometown.
Internationally celebrated for her bold use of pattern and textiles, Njoku has become known for creating vibrant, textured worlds that tell stories of the African diaspora.

The exhibition will feature nine new paintings that explore themes such as intergenerational conflict, female beauty standards, queer identity, spiritual resilience, and childhood ambiguity.

Njoku’s signature patterns and textile-inspired language take center stage, while her use of texture adds a new tactile dimension to her work.

The exhibition embodies the dynamic Lagos culture and Njoku’s vision of art as a living, collective experience.

Njoku’s “An Owambe Exhibition” will take place from November 24th to January 24th, 2026, with opening nights on November 22nd and December 19th, 2025. The exhibition will be held at 67C Kofo Abayomi, VI, while the opening nights will be at 59 Raymond Njoku Street, Ikoyi.

Throughout the exhibition period, the gallery will host various activations every Thursday evening.
Every Thursday evening, the gallery will transform into a space for guests to gather across industries and disciplines, reimagining how art connects to everyday life.

The activations will include a range of activities, such as a hands-on textile workshop celebrating Nigeria’s dyeing and printing traditions, an intimate activation featuring folklore and coloring sheets for children, a live jazz session, and a presentation of works inspired by Njoku’s paintings, starting with a hands-on textile workshop on November 27th, celebrating Nigeria’s dyeing and printing traditions.

Other activations will include guided workshops for secondary and university students, a creative session for adult painters and industry professionals, a moderated Q&A with Njoku, a fashion presentation of her fabric collaboration with a Lagos-based designer, and the release of Njoku’s exclusive art book for the exhibition.

On December 4th, an intimate activation featuring folklore and coloring sheets for children aged 18 months-6 years, titled “Moonlight Storytime,” will take place. This will be followed by a live jazz session, “Highlife Reimagined,” on December 11th. Writers and performers will present works inspired by Njoku’s paintings in “Narrating Lagos” on December 16th.

The year will end with a guided workshop, “Inspired by Uzo: Student Studio,” for secondary and university students on December 27th.

In the new year, a creative session, “Inspired by Uzo: Adult Studio,” for adult painters and industry professionals will be held on January 3rd. This will be followed by a moderated Q&A, “Artist Talk with Uzo,” with Uzo Njoku on January 8th. A fashion presentation, “From Studio to Runway,” showcasing Njoku’s fabric collaboration with a Lagos-based designer will take place on January 15th. Finally, the exhibition will conclude with the release of Uzo Njoku’s exclusive art book, “Art Book Launch,” on January 22nd.

According to Njoku, “This exhibition is not just about showing paintings, it’s about creating a space for Lagosians to celebrate, question, and reimagine our culture together.”

Uzo Njoku is a visual artist, designer, and entrepreneur known for merging African textile traditions, bold portraiture, and contemporary storytelling in her work.

A graduate of the University of Virginia and founder of UzoArt Inc., she has collaborated with global brands such as Apple Music, Tommy Hilfiger, Walmart, and YSL Beauty. Her work has been exhibited in New York, Washington DC, and now, for the first time, in Lagos.