202 Gallery Presents Reflections, An Intergenerational Exhibition By The Guild of Professional Artists of Nigeria

Yinka Olatunbosun

As part of its annual calendar, the Guild of Professional Artists of Nigeria (GFA) is showcasing a rich collection of artworks at 202 Gallery in Ikoyi, Lagos. The exhibition, titled Reflections, runs from December 15 to 19, 2025, and brings together pieces from both seasoned masters and emerging talents.

Curated by Majid Biggar, the gallery manager, Reflections features 27 members of the Guild, presenting a mix of sculptures, paintings, mixed-media works, and drawings. According to the gallery, the exhibition celebrates mentorship, creativity, and the dynamic interplay between tradition and innovation in Nigerian art.

The show highlights iconic works such as Ato Arinze’s 1998 bronze sculpture Torso of a Tomboy and Duke Asidere’s vibrant abstract portraits. Young artists are also on display, including Collins Abinoro, whose deer sculpture crafted from repurposed spoons transforms everyday materials into art, and Elizabeth Ekpetorson, whose intimate paintings explore self-acceptance and emotional healing. Other notable contributions include Gerry Nnubia’s recycled metal pieces, Sam Ebohon’s acrylic paintings on plexiglass, and Nathalie Djakou Kassi’s bronze figures examining femininity and balance.

Also on display are emotive portraits by Olajide Salako and Edosa Ogiugo, alongside George Edozie’s impressionist works reflecting social, political, and emotional dimensions of life today. Across the gallery, visitors can experience the diversity of Nigerian artistry through the works of Ben Ibebe, Emeka Nwagbara, Fidelis Odogwu, Olisa Nwadiogbu, Wande George, and others.

Speaking at the opening, Gerry Nnubia, chairman of the exhibition committee, revealed that the Guild, now ten years old, is dedicated to nurturing artistic excellence. “The Guild is a crop of very excellent artists,” he said. “Every year, we showcase a fragment of what we can do, to present the best of Nigerian art. Reflections is about bringing past and present together, showing how art evolves over time.”

Nnubia’s own works, ‘Love Garden 5 & 6,’ reflect his vision of God’s original plan for humanity to dwell in love. He also noted differences between generations, saying younger artists are more liberal and innovative, while older artists bring their own dynamic approaches to their work.

Emeka Nwagbara, another exhibiting artist, described the exhibition as a benchmark for the Guild. “People come not just to acquire art but to be inspired and educated,” he said. “Every artist must leave a piece of themselves in their work so it can be recognised through style, colour, or technique.”

Explaining his work Epiphany of the Sun, Nwagbara described it as the result of a sudden moment of discovery. “Art is a 24-hour job,” he said. “I experienced a sudden inspiration while learning piano late at night, and the feeling had to be captured on canvas. That is how this piece was born.”