Guest Artists Space (G.A.S.) Foundation, an artist residency with sites in Lagos and Ijebu has announced its first Founding Patron following a transformative donation from Still Earth Holdings, a group of companies whose operations span the oil and gas, construction, and financial services sector. 

The Foundation and its projects have continued to generate both local and international interest since our last press update, with features secured in publications based in Europe, Africa and Asia. We've catalogued some of our favourite coverage from the first quarter of 2023 here, and for the first time are including a piece generated by G.A.S. Foundation alumni which demonstrates beautifully the potential impact that a residency can offer.

April proved to be the busiest month to date at Guest Artists Space Foundation. A total of five practitioners based across Benin, the UK and the US were hosted both in Lagos and the Farm House in Ijebu.

G.A.S. is hosting an organisational residency in partnership with the Center for Contemporary Art, Lagos (CCA) throughout the month of May. Over four weeks CCA will programme a series of themed events, workshops and salons within the G.A.S. Lagos building whilst three invited international artists are hosted in the resident quarters.

The collaboration highlights our joint commitment to cross-organisational partnerships within Nigeria’s arts ecosystem and will allow for the sharing of resources and expertise whilst fostering impactful experiences, vital dialogues and increased opportunities that aim to foreground the local community.

G.A.S. Lagos is pleased to welcome two talented economics researchers, Alexei Moore and Miranda Hagborg, who will be in residence from 2nd to 26th May 2023. Both researchers are completing their Masters in Economics at the Stockholm School of Economics, where they are recipients of the Yinka Shonibare Thesis Scholarship, launched in cooperation with Art Initiative and Misum, Mistra Center for Sustainable Markets. The scholarship gives SSE students the opportunity to do a field study on-site in Nigeria.

On Sunday, 23rd April, distinguished guests and connoisseurs from Lagos’ buzzing arts ecosystem gathered at Guest Artists Space Foundation for an evening celebrating international creativity and culture. The special moment was generously organised and facilitated by creative entrepreneur, cultural curator and founder of BLOOM Art, Ugoma Ebilah and offered visitors the opportunity to get an intimate glimpse into the practice of current G.A.S. residents Tunji Adeniyi-Jones, Laeïla Ajovi, Chiizii, and Tobi Onabolu.

Tilga Art Fund is now accepting applications from artists between the ages of 18 and 30 working and living in Uganda, or of Ugandan descent. Applicants are invited to submit proposals as individuals or as a group across a variety of creative disciplines that include photography, painting, sculpture, illustration or multidisciplinary arts. The grant is intended to support early career artists in developing their practice through any project of their choosing.

Interwoven Histories is a convening of contemporary artists Victor Ehikhamenor, Gbolahan Ayoola, and curator and artist Temitayo Ogunbiyi facilitated by figurative painter Tunji Adeniyi-Jones. The event marks the conclusion of Adeniyi-Jones’ residency at G.A.S. Lagos, a period of research, exploration and introspection that has provided opportunities to connect with and draw inspiration from the burgeoning local arts and culture ecosystem.

On Thursday, May 4, 2023, G.A.S. Foundation hosted Why Hast Thou Forsaken Me? , an immersive installation and performance by G.A.S. Fellow and  Farm House resident, Tobi Onabolu. With two showings of his performance, and an installation showing photography and poetry from the duration of his residency. Across video, photography, sound, poetry, and performance, this multimedia body of work interrogated the process of liberating the subconscious mind and the body from external forces of control. With the increasing imposition of digital technology, organized religion, hegemonic socio-economic systems, and cultural normativity on our minds and bodies; all of which are ubiquitous within our daily lived experiences, Tobi questioned what remains of the human's "natural instincts?”