Omenka Gallery

Omenka Gallery is a Nigerian contemporary art gallery located in Ikoyi, Lagos. Founded in 2003, it represents both Nigerian and international artists and has played a significant role in promoting contemporary Nigerian art domestically and abroad. The gallery is situated within the Ben Enwonwu Foundation, established the same year to preserve the work of Ben Enwonwu (1917-1994), one of Nigeria's leading 20th-century modernist artists, and to increase the visibility and appreciation of contemporary African art.

Omenka Gallery was founded in 2003 by Nigerian artist, curator, and art administrator Oliver Enwonwu, son of Ben Enwonwu. From its inception, the gallery adopted an intercultural approach aimed at fostering cultural exchanges between institutions and artists from around the world through exhibitions, debates, seminars, and workshops. The gallery's programme of solo and group exhibitions has introduced new work by established and emerging artists since its founding. In its early years, exhibitions such as the 2009 show A perspective on contemporary Nigerian photography focused public attention on developing trends in the Nigerian art world. The gallery also hosted Insanity, the first hyperrealism group exhibition in Nigeria. In the following decade, Omenka developed its international profile with exhibitions such as Having Travelled Far, showcasing Europe-based artists of African heritage, and began participating in international art fairs.

The gallery holds and promotes one of the most significant collections of work by Ben Enwonwu, whose practice influenced the development of modern and contemporary Nigerian art. Beyond this foundational holding, the gallery's programme spans contemporary painting, photography, drawing, and hyperrealism. Its roster has included both emerging and established artists working across diverse media, with particular attention to Nigerian practitioners and the broader African diaspora. The gallery has also supported critical discourse through publications such as Ben Enwonwu Life and Times (2008), A Perspective of Contemporary Nigerian Photography (2009), and several exhibition catalogues with forewords by Oliver Enwonwu.

The gallery's most significant holding is the collection of Ben Enwonwu's work, preserved through the Ben Enwonwu Foundation. In terms of exhibitions, the 2009 photography show A perspective on contemporary Nigerian photography featured George Osodi alongside the renowned master J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere (1930-2014). The Insanity exhibition introduced hyperrealists Arinze Stanley, Ken Nwadiogbu, and Ayo Filade to Nigerian audiences. The Having Travelled Far exhibition presented Europe-based artists of African heritage including Godfried Donkor, Owusu-Ankomah, Manuela Sambo, EL Loko, and Ransome Stanley. Represented artists have included Kelani Abass, Cedric Nunn, Dominique Zinkpè, Duke Asidere, Kimathi Donkor, and Nnenna Okore, among others.

The gallery is located in Ikoyi, described as one of the most vibrant areas of Lagos. It operates within the Ben Enwonwu Foundation, which was constituted in 2003 specifically to preserve and conserve Ben Enwonwu's works. The foundation and gallery share this site as a base for their joint mission of advancing contemporary African art.

Omenka Gallery is located in Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria. It is a private gallery under the directorship of Oliver Enwonwu. The gallery maintains an active exhibition programme and has participated in international art fairs including Art15 in London, Art Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, and The Armory zeit in New York. It has also curated cross-cultural exhibitions, such as a Nigeria-Italy show held at the Civic Center, Victoria Island, featuring Nigerian and Italian artists exhibiting together. The gallery's official website is https://www.omenkagallery.com.