Access Holdings Plc and Coronation Group hosted an exclusive reception at Tate Modern in London to celebrate the remarkable success and enduring legacy of the Nigerian Modernism exhibition, one of the gallery’s most significant showcases of African art in recent years.
Held in partnership with Tate Modern from October 10, 2025, to May 8, 2026, the exhibition featured nearly 300 works by more than 50 artists, tracing the evolution of modern Nigerian art from the 1940s through the post-independence era.
Through paintings, sculptures, textiles, ceramics and works on paper, it explored the political, social and cultural forces that shaped modern African artistic expression.
The exhibition attracted over 180,000 visitors and reached millions more worldwide through international media coverage, digital platforms, educational programmes and scholarly discussions, significantly raising the global profile of Nigerian modern art.
Beyond its critical acclaim, Nigerian Modernism expanded access to African art by inspiring young people, particularly those of African heritage, to engage more deeply with their culture, history and artistic identity at one of the world’s foremost cultural institutions.
The reception brought together prominent figures from business, diplomacy, academia, culture and the arts to recognise the exhibition’s international impact and lasting cultural significance.
Speaking at the event, Chairman of Access Holdings and Coronation Group, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, described the exhibition’s influence on young people as one of its greatest achievements.
He revealed that nearly 2,800 students, many of African descent, visited the exhibition, with many expressing a renewed appreciation of their heritage and a stronger sense of identity and pride in their African roots.
Aig-Imoukhuede also highlighted the exhibition’s role in strengthening cultural diplomacy, noting that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu included a private tour of Nigerian Modernism during his official visit to London, describing it as a powerful demonstration of how culture can enhance national identity and global engagement.
Interim Director of Tate Modern, Karin Hinsbo, praised the exhibition for presenting a story never before told in a UK gallery. She noted that the collaboration showcased 50 artists across five decades and featured about 250 outstanding works spanning painting, sculpture, textiles, ceramics and works on paper, adding that the project would not have been possible without the support and commitment of Access Holdings and Coronation Group.
The exhibition was widely applauded for challenging conventional art historical narratives by firmly positioning Nigerian artists within the global history of twentieth-century modernism. It also featured lectures, guided tours and educational initiatives designed to deepen public appreciation of African art and identity.
One of the exhibition’s highlights was the display of seven historic wooden sculptures by Ben Enwonwu, originally commissioned in 1960 for the Daily Mirror in London and now part of the Access Holdings Art Collection, reflecting the importance of preserving Africa’s artistic heritage.
Although the exhibition has ended, participants agreed that its legacy will continue to influence scholarship on African modernism, strengthen international cultural partnerships and inspire global conversations on African creativity, heritage and cultural diplomacy.
