Tiwani Contemporary is pleased to announce that gallery artist, Joy Labinjo will be undertaking a research-based residency at Guest Artists Space (G.A.S.) Foundation in Lagos, Nigeria this April 2025.
Joy Labinjo’s large-scale figurative paintings often depict intimate scenes of historical and contemporary life, both real and imagined and often based on figures appearing in personal and archival imagery that include family photographs, found images and historical material. In the past, she has explored themes including but not limited to identity, political voice, power, Blackness, race, history, community and family and their role in contemporary experience.
This residency is part of Tiwani Contemporary’s ongoing partnership with G.A.S., an initiative of the Yinka Shonibare Foundation, which supports residencies and fellowships for emerging and established artists from the African continent and the African diaspora.
G.A.S. provides artists, curators, and researchers with the space and resources to develop new ideas, engage with local communities, and immerse themselves in Lagos’ dynamic cultural landscape. Labinjo’s residency will take place at the G.A.S. Lagos space in Oniru, where she will explore new research avenues and contribute to G.A.S.’s public programme, sharing insights into her practice with the local art community.
Throughout her residency, Labinjo will focus on research and also participate in activities facilitated by Tiwani Contemporary and G.A.S., designed to introduce artists to the Lagosian art ecosystem and provide opportunities for dialogue and exchange. She will expand on current ideas and new ideas developed during the residency as a foundation to develop future work.
Tiwani Contemporary marked the opening of the Lagos space in 2022 with a solo exhibition by Joy Labinjo, Full Ground , a series of nude self-portraits - the first showing of her work in Nigeria and on the African continent.
Tiwani Contemporary is proud to support this initiative, reinforcing our commitment to fostering artistic research and cross-cultural exchange within the African and international art scenes.
For more information about the Guest Artists Space Foundation, click here
