Rele Announces 2019 Young Contemporaries

Hosted by the Rele Arts Foundation, the 4th edition of the Young Contemporaries Initiative has been announced. Since its inception, the initiative has armed young emerging visual art talents with tools and knowledge necessary for thriving in both local and international art spaces.

The 2019 edition will feature exhibitions from 6 young artists on Sunday the 13th of January at Rele Gallery. The 6 artists include:

Stephen Tayo

Stephen Tayo is a Lagos based photographer with interests in youth culture and urban style. As an artist, he draws his inspiration from the likes of Malick Sidibe, Seydou Keita Samuel Fosso. A graduate of philosophy from the University of Lagos, his work has graced the pages of international publications such as Teen Vogue, New York Times, US Vogue, British Vogue, Dazed among others.

Osaru Obaseki

Osaru Obaseki is a self taught abstract artist from Edo State. Though majoring in Management Science at the University of Port Harcourt, her prime focus has always been her art which she describes as a “depiction of self awareness, self acceptance, repressed individualism, strengths, sense of emerging, thereby bringing into play the irony of opposite sides – Life being contained with joy and sadness, flourish and pain, and riches”

Anthonia Nneji

Anthonia Nneji is a multi-faceted artist with art running in her blood as she comes from a line of traditional carvers. A graduate of visual arts from the University of Lagos she is a photographer, visual artist, art blogger, and graffiti artist.

Abraham Ogunlende

Popularly known as Painterabe, Abraham Ogunlende is a visual artist with an MBA in Business Marketing from the University of Philadelphia, USA. His inspirations include Mark Rothko, Keith Haring, and Lemi Ghariokwu.

Joseph Fidelis

Weilding a degree in painting from Zaria Art School, Joseph Fidelis is a full time studio artist already making great strides in his career. His work caught the eyes of panellists at the last edition of The Marker- a platform for new and emerging artists in the early stages of their careers.

Osaze Amadasun

Osaze Amadasun is a Lagos based illustrator and designer focused on documenting Nigerian culture through his art. His hope is to create enough relatable local content which other artists can draw knowledge.