In Honour of Yusuf Grillo, Lineage of Masters II Looms

Yinka Olatunbosun

In commemoration of the 92nd posthumous birthday of the patriarch of modern Nigeria art and scholar, Prof. Yusuf Grillo (1934-2021), a tribute exhibition to honour and reflect on the enduring influence of one of Africa’s most distinguished modern artists, educators and cultural visionaries is set to hold from October 24 to December 16.

Titled “Lineage of Masters II: Continuity, and Contemporary Expression,” the show encourages dialogue between the past and the present. The participating artists have been selected because their practices reflect varying degrees of engagement with Grillo’s legacy. Some of them were directly taught, mentored or inspired by him. Others have encountered his influence through institutional histories, artistic traditions, cultural narratives or the broader evolution of contemporary African art. Collectively, their works celebrate legacies that transcend generations, geographies, mediums and ideologies.

Rather than presenting homage alone, this exhibition encourages dialogues between the past and the present. The show is a site of memory, reflection and creative continuity. By celebrating artistic inheritance, this show is an affirmation that great ideas do not end with the lives of those who conceive them.

According to Mrs. Morayo Grillo-Anthonio, every artist was selected on merit.

“We hope this platform will become more than a commemorative gathering. It is intended to provide a meeting point for ideas, collaboration, research, exhibitions, documentations and further communication as we collectively consider how best to preserve, interpret and advance the legacy of Yusuf Grillo for present and future generations.”

The show which runs from October 24 to December 21 will feature works from the following artists: Yusuf Grillo, T. A. Fasuyi, Bruce Onabrakpeya, Jerome Elaiho, Kolade Oshinowo, Dele Jegede, B.A. Aina, Abiodun Olaku, Ade Ogundimu, Adeola Balogun, Ato Arinze, Ben Nwosa, Bunmi Babatunde, Dotun Adegbite, Duke Asidere, Edosa Ogiugo, Fidelis Odogwu, Hassan Aliyu, Jerry Buhari, Juliet Ezenwa, Kehinde Sanwo, Kunle Adeyemi, Lara Ige -Jacks, Lekan Onabanjo, Odun Orimolade, Olusegun Adejumo Sam Ebohon and Sam Ovraiti.
Hosted by Yusuf Grillo Museum, Ikeja this second edition of the tribute exhibition, Lineage of the Masters II: Continuity, and Contemporary Expression. The exhibition celebrates the enduring impact, artistic inheritance, and visual philosophy of the legendary Nigerian master artist, Professor Yusuf Adebayo Cameron Grillo.
Prof. Grillo was a pivotal figure in contemporary African art. A key member of the famous “Zaria Rebels” at the Nigerian College of Arts, Science and Technology in the late 1950s, Grillo helped champion the philosophy of Natural Synthesis—a blending of indigenous African traditions and modern Western techniques.
As the founding President of the Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA) and the long-serving Head of the Department of Art and Printing at Yaba College of Technology (Yabatech), Grillo nurtured generations of artists. His legacy lives on not only through his iconic blue-hued figurative paintings, stained glass, and public murals, but also through his former students and protégés who now lead the contemporary scene.