A GoodART Workshop on Storytelling and Collage Making for Children Aged 9-17 Led by Rachel Anyo
On May 3rd, 2025, G.A.S. Lagos hosted Retelling and Creating New Memories, a collage workshop led by multidisciplinary artist Rachel Anyo in collaboration with The Children’s Art Gallery (TCAG). Structured for children aged 9 to 17, the 90-minute session offered a playful and reflective space to explore storytelling and memory through hands-on collage-making. Through this, the participants discovered how personal stories, photographs, and everyday materials could be reimagined into visual narratives that reflected their thoughts, memories, and identities.
The session began with an introduction from Rachel, who shared insights into her practice, which draws on photography, memory, and cultural narrative. She spoke about her interest in the archive, not as a static record of the past, but as something living and personal. To help the children connect with this idea, she asked them to recall a favourite toy from their past and share what made it special. This simple exercise sparked curiosity and reflection in the children, setting the tone for the workshop.
Following this, participants moved into a visual storytelling exercise. Guided by Rachel, they examined collaged photographs and were encouraged to imagine the lives of the people depicted, interpret the scenes, and consider how the images might relate to their own experiences. To further inspire their collage work, Rachel introduced examples of contemporary artists who use archives in their practice. These references helped the children think about how memory and identity could be expressed through image and composition.
The event culminated in a hands-on collage workshop, where each child created a piece that captured a story, emotion, or memory. With guidance from Rachel and members of the TCAG team, they used magazines, printed photographs, drawing tools, and paper to cut, paste, and layer images.
The session concluded with a short presentation, where participants shared their creations and spoke about the ideas behind them. Many expressed pride and excitement as they described the inspiration for their work. By the end of the workshop, the children left not only with finished artworks, but also with a deeper appreciation for storytelling.
Event Details
Date: 3rd May, 2025
Time: 11:00 am - 1:30 pm
Location: 9b, Hakeem Dickson Drive, off TF Kuboye Road, Oniru, Lagos.
About the Facilitator
Rachel Anyo
Rachel Anyo (b. Kiryat Yam, Israel) is a multidisciplinary artist and photographer whose work explores identity, femininity, and cultural heritage. Merging traditional Ethiopian folklore with contemporary digital techniques, she creates a unique visual language, reinterpreting hand weaving through family photographs, digital collages, mandalas, and woven compositions. Anyo has held solo exhibitions, including Figure Coming to Life at the Haifa Museum of Art (2024) and A Love Letter to Myself at Maya Gallery (2023), and has participated in several group exhibitions. Beyond her studio practice, Anyo is committed to community-based art initiatives, working to make contemporary art accessible to underserved audiences. She amplifies the voices of marginalized communities, especially the Israeli-Ethiopian community, through collaborative projects, workshops, and exhibitions. Her focus on community engagement fosters social change and enriches the discourse around cultural identity and representation.
About the Collaborator
The Children's Art Gallery (TCAG)
TCAG was established to encourage children, especially those from low-income families, to create and exhibit their artwork. The gallery provides a platform for showcasing and selling children’s art, with proceeds going toward the children’s welfare, including health and education. The gallery also organizes educational programs in hospitals and communities, promoting discussions on image ownership and personal storytelling through art.
Rachel Anyo’s residency is generously supported by Artis, and we are pleased to be collaborating with TCAG for this event.
