The centre was established in September 2009, by Chief (Mrs.) Oyenike Monica Okundaye aka “Nike” solely from her earnings as an artist and without governmental assistance. Nike opened this centre with 20 young girls who were marching the streets in Osogbo aimlessly and who had no hopes for the future. She is also the Owner/Curator of the Nike Art Galleries at Osogbo, Ogidi-Ijumu and Abuja.
Nike’s unique style in textile design and painting garnered international recognition bringing her a lot of fame and fortune. Therefore, she has been able to economically and socially empower many rural women by setting up cottage weaving workshops/ centres for women at Abuja, Osogbo and Ogidi-Ijumu, thereby giving voices to them in their various communities. So far, over 3000 young Nigerians have been trained in the centre and who are now earning their decent livings through art. Many African countries now send their students to study textile art at the centre.
Chief (Mrs) Nike Davies-Okundaye was born in 1951 in Ogidi-Ijumu, Kogi State, Nigeria. She was brought up amidst the traditional weaving and dying practice in her native village of Ogidi in Western Nigeria. Chief Nike's artistic skills were nurtured at a young age by her parents and great grandmother who were musicians and craftspeople. She spent the early part of her life in Osogbo, which is recognised as one of the major centres for art and culture in Nigeria. During her stay in Osogbo, indigo dying and Adire production dominated her informal training.
Chief Nike is the founder and director of four art centres, which offers free training to young artists in visual, musical and the performing arts. She is the owner of the largest art gallery in West Africa, compromising over 7,000 artworks. The centres also serve as a rich source of knowledge for traditional arts and culture to scholars and institutions. Nike is known all over the world for promoting her designs through exhibitions and workshops in Nigeria, USA, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Italy and the United Kingdom.
Chief Nike lives and works in Lagos, Nigeria.
The Nike Art Gallery in Lagos is one of Nigeria’s hidden treasures located in the Lekki axis of Lagos. The four-story building compromises of art gallery and textile museum featuring over 7,000 pieces and will soon have a Coffee shop.
The Centre has a diverse collection of art by a multitude of artists, celebrating Nigeria’s talent, and offering visitors an insight into all cultures of Nigeria through the medium of art. It can take up to a full day to discover all that the art gallery has to offer. Fortunately, the gallery is open 7 days a week often holding art exhibitions, workshops and cultural days.
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