Amid the vibrant pulse of Lagos’s art scene, a new beacon of culture and intellect has emerged. ADEGBOLA Gallery, founded by lawyer, collector, and cultural entrepreneur Kayode Adegbola, opened its doors in 2025 amid Nigeria’s 65th Independence celebrations, setting a fresh and ambitious tone for African art.
This is not just another gallery. It is a bold statement, a community forged at a critical juncture where Nigerian artists, collectors, and audiences converge to redefine contemporary creativity on local and global terms.
Adegbola’s journey, from a youthful photographer who innovatively documented his world to a seasoned curator championing the masters alongside emerging voices, reflects the gallery’s ethos: rooted, reflective, and ambitious. The gallery’s inaugural exhibition, Heroes Past, honours Nigeria’s nationalist leaders through rare paintings, sculptures, and archival treasures, reminding us of the power of history and art intertwined.
At its core, ADEGBOLA is more than a commercial space; it’s a civic actor intent on fostering critical dialogue, intellectual rigour, and sustainable cultural value. Through exhibitions, publishing, public art, and artist mentoring, the gallery aims to transform the perception, production, and preservation of Nigerian and African art. For Adegbola, the mission is clear: to build a lasting institution that shapes our understanding of who we are and who we might become.
Adegbola is a lawyer, advisor, and entrepreneur in the creative industries. He received his Bachelor of Laws degree from Queen Mary, University of London. He has also attended courses at the London School of Economics and Political Science and the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. After gaining a foundation in litigation and commercial transaction advisory, he acquired public sector experience working with the $70 million Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), encompassing concept, strategy, and implementation stages. He was also Secretary of the Governing Council of the Lagos State Employability Support Project, a $4 million matching fund between LSETF and UNDP.
Adegbola has advised both traditional and venture-backed companies across Africa. He has also invested in over 20 high-growth, technology-enabled companies. He sits on the Board of Governors of The Vale College, chairs the Board of venture-backed Fez Delivery Company and is a Trustee at several non-profits. On the creative front, Adegbola has produced art exhibitions since 2010. He is a keen art collector, the founder of The Vault Artist Residency, and was an instrumental contributor to the second-ever Nigerian Pavilion at the London Design Biennale in 2023. In this interview, Adegbola sheds more light on his person, passion and perspectives
What inspired you to launch ADEGBOLA Gallery, and what prompted you to do so now?
Launching ADEGBOLA Gallery is the next stage of evolution in my years of engagement with the art world—as a photographer, collector, and cultural entrepreneur. Now feels like the right time because Nigeria is at an inflection point. A generation of artists, collectors, and audiences are maturing simultaneously. I wanted to create a community that responds to the moment – by elevating critical dialogue, finding and showcasing exceptional work, and building lasting value around our culture.
How would you describe the gallery’s mission and curatorial vision?
Our mission is to champion rigorous, resonant art from Nigeria and the wider African continent, through thoughtful exhibitions, collector engagement, and long-term artist support. Curatorially, we are drawn to practices that are rooted, reflective, and formally ambitious—work that rewards contemplation and resists easy consumption.
What sets ADEGBOLA Gallery apart from other art spaces in Nigeria and beyond?
We are building a gallery that operates with international standards but is deeply anchored in local relevance. What sets us apart is our long view—we see the gallery not only as a commercial space, but as a civic actor. From public art and publishing to artist development, our focus is on infrastructure, not just inventory.
What criteria guide your artist selection?
We look for artists with distinct voices, a serious commitment to their practice, and the potential to sustain growth over decades. Beyond technical skill, we value critical thinking — artists who are asking questions that matter, and whose work sits in conversation with global art history while remaining unapologetically local.
What conversations are you hoping to spark with ‘Heroes Past’?
Exhibiting portraits and busts of Nigerian Nationalists will not only explore the stylistic expressions of Master Nigerian artists, it will also encourage audiences to learn more about how Nigeria came into being. Heroes Past will include paintings and sculptures by Akinola Lasekan, Uche Okeke, Ben Enwonwu, Lady Head, Oyerinde Olotu, Rufus Ogundele, Doreen Kern, as well as archival images and related paraphernalia. I’m really excited about it because of the combination of beauty, historical relevance and educational value.
What does Heroes Past mean to you personally, and how did the concept evolve?
Personally, Heroes Past emerged from a constant desire to do things differently. My dream is to have the exhibition roam through Museums across the country, so this is in fact an early iteration of the grand idea. I believe in starting small and growing organically.
What are your long-term ambitions for the gallery?
To establish a gallery of enduring importance—intellectually, commercially, and culturally. I want ADEGBOLA Gallery to be a key institution in defining what serious engagement with African art looks like, both in Nigeria and on the global stage.
How do you see the gallery contributing to or shaping the Nigerian art ecosystem?
Locally, by nurturing artists, commissioning critical writing, and deepening collector engagement. Internationally, by advocating for Nigerian and African voices on equal terms—not as tokens, but as peers. We want to shape perception, practice, and power in the art world.
What kinds of partnerships or collaborations would you most like to pursue through Adegbola Art Projects? We’re interested in partnerships that align with our values: cultural depth, intellectual rigour, and long-term vision. That could mean collaborating with museums, biennales, or brands—but always with integrity. We’re also keen on cross-disciplinary projects that bridge into passion areas like film, architecture, and publishing.
What do you collect personally, and what draws you to a work?
I collect across styles and eras, and beauty is usually the starting point. I am also always drawn to work that holds depth–something that reveals itself over time. Historical context and well-considered themes also attract me.
What impact do you hope to make through this next chapter—for yourself, for artists, and for audiences?
For myself, I want to build something that endures and uplifts. For artists, I hope to provide space and support for
long-term growth—not just exposure. And for audiences, I want to offer encounters that are transformative: that provoke thought, offer beauty, and deepen our sense of who we are and who we might become.
