By Prisca Sam-Duru

ART enthusiast, Scholars and stakeholders in the art and culture industry were brought together last week at the Omenka Gallery, Lagos, to listen to a lecture by visiting American artist and  founder of Mbari Institute of Contemporary African Art, Washington DC, USA, Professor Mimi Wolford.Prof Wolford who is visiting Nigeria on the US Department of State Travelling Speaker program aside the lecture, is scheduled to conduct workshops in Abuja, Oshogbo and at the Department of Creative Arts, University of Lagos.

Her lecture themed, “Mbari Art, Then and Now,” which was organised by the U.S. Consulate in collaboration with Omenka Gallery was a huge platform for serious interaction between the American artist and contemporary artists present.

She explained how Americans are beginning to appreciate African art which she noted, speaks eloquently of the fact that Nigerian art is witnessing tremendous growth which is in contrast with what it used to be.

The Mbari Institute of Contemporary African Art founder who said she was brought up by her parents,  Richard Wolford and Jean Kennedy who were themselves artists, recollected with passion, how their dexterity imparted her life.

She narrated to the audience her experiences while living in Lagos from 1961, during her parents’ foreign service for seven years.It is interesting at this juncture to learn that Mimi’s father worked closely with several renowned artists among who is the iconic artist, Prof Bruce Onobrakpeya with whom he developed a deep-etching technique.

It was during this time according to the artist that her parents turned their home into a gallery every Thursday afternoon where works of Osogbo artists were exhibited. Till date,  Richard’s works form part of the collection housed in the University of Lagos Library.

Sounding fulfilled with what Nigerian contemporary art has become, Prof Wolford declared  that Nigeria’s contemporary artists have developed tremendously which is the reason their works are immensely appreciated in the US.