The Nigerian art scene is set for another significant boost as the prestigious Next of Kin Series launches its eighth edition. This year's theme, Fragments of Being, challenges artists to explore the core of human identity in a rapidly changing world. With art now recognized as a valuable alternative asset class, initiatives like this are crucial for economic diversification and nurturing creative talent.
More Than a Competition: A Platform for Future Masters
Conceived by the Thought Pyramid Art Centre in 2018, the Next of Kin Series was created with a clear mission: to strategically plan and prepare the future of visual art in Nigeria. It has since grown into a vital catalyst for emerging artists across Nigeria and Africa. Far from being just a contest, it is a comprehensive yearly juried project that combines competition with exhibition, offering crucial guidance, mentorship, and a prominent platform.
The initiative seeks to discover, from the multitude of new talents, those unique individuals with artistic originality, creative disruptiveness, and futuristic vision. The call for entries for Series 8, which invited artists to explore shifting identities and changing human conditions, closed on November 31, 2025. Selected artists are to be contacted shortly.
Piecing Together Identity in a World of Change
The theme, Fragments of Being, is profoundly reflective. It asks artists to consider what remains constant within us when everything else is in flux. In a time where people often adopt new personas, the theme urges a deep dive into identity, memory, and truth.
Initiator Ovie Omatsola explained the motivation: "So many things have been happening recently with people suddenly changing and taking up new characters. Many have forgotten who they are, so we thought to see how our visual artists can interpret that through research." The theme ultimately explores how experiences, culture, and time continuously shape and reshape our very essence.
Life-Changing Prize and Notable Alumni
This year, the platform will showcase 20 exceptional finalists chosen from entries across Nigeria and the continent. From this group, one Main Prize Winner will be awarded a monumental solo art exhibition prize valued at ₦6,000,000 for 2027. This prize is designed to be a transformative opportunity, propelling the winner's career to new heights.
The exhibition of finalists' works is scheduled to run from Sunday, April 5, 2026 (opening day) to Saturday, April 11, 2026, with the main prize winner announced at the opening ceremony. The series continues to enjoy sponsorship from Nigeria Machine Tools and Trustbanc, underscoring corporate support for artistic excellence.
The program's credibility is reflected in its alumni, which includes internationally recognized names such as:
- Forbes-listed artist Antonia Nneji
- Bonhams-auctioned artist Ikechukwu Ezeigwe
- Continentially dominant Christian Allison
- Recently unearthed talents like Idowu Emmanuel, Cletus Oche, Yakno Ene, and Olalekan Adeyemi Julius
By blending artistry with enterprise, the Next of Kin Series exemplifies how creative sector initiatives can drive sustainable innovation, contribute to economic development, and ensure that Nigeria's vibrant artistic future is in capable hands.
