The Spectrum Group Art Exhibition, a vibrant celebration of contemporary African expressionism, concluded on November 15th, 2024, after a two-day showcase at the renowned Casild Contemporary Gallery, located at 32 Connaught Street, London W2 2AF.
Curated by acclaimed artist and curator Shittu Babajide, the exhibition brought together a powerful collective of emerging and established talents including Favour Ben, Ayodeji Ayodele, Ife Olowu, Ruth Agbolade, Babalola Kazeem Ayinde, Gbolahan Olanipekun, and Ayo Artcreations.
Each artist presented a unique visual language exploring themes of identity, culture, memory, and transformation through contemporary African lenses.
Featured Artists and Highlights:
• Ife Olowu captivated audiences with his mixed media expressionist paintings that merged traditional African motifs with augmented reality (AR).
His featured works allowed viewers to engage beyond the canvas—accessing moving, evolving layers through smartphones—redefining how we experience African narratives.
• Favour Ben, known for her emotionally charged figurative paintings, presented pieces rooted in femininity, strength, and transformation.
Her art evoked both elegance and beauty, pushing the boundaries of intimacy and identity.
• Ayodeji Ayodele exhibited photo art.
• Ruth Agbolade delivered textured works influenced by Yoruba cultural symbolism. Her use of pattern and organic form created visual poetry centered on womanhood, ancestry, and rebirth.
• Babalola Kazeem Ayinde exhibited pencil art centered around culture and identity
• Gbolahan Olanipekun showcased conceptual photos that blend architecture, memory, and societal tension. His visual storytelling reveals hidden narratives and historical traumas beneath surface beauty.
• Ayo Artcreations contributed a series of urban-inspired art, blending realism with street art aesthetics.
The show offered London audiences a rare opportunity to engage with diverse works that spanned painting, mixed media, sculpture, and digital techniques.
Notably, Ife Olowu, known for his expressive visual style and integration of augmented reality (AR) in fine art, exhibited new works that resonated deeply with viewers and further demonstrated his commitment to merging tradition with innovation.
The opening day was marked by a strong turnout of art collectors, cultural enthusiasts, critics, and members of the African diaspora in the UK, creating a dynamic space of dialogue and appreciation.
The energy across both days affirmed the importance of such international platforms in highlighting the rich, multidimensional nature of African contemporary art. The Spectrum Group Exhibition not only spotlighted individual artistic brilliance but also reinforced the power of collective expression.
Spectrum, true to its name, showcased a spectrum of voices, techniques, and ideas, making it a landmark group exhibition for contemporary African art in the UK.
Collectors, curators, and art lovers gathered at 32 Connaught Street to experience not just an exhibition but a movement—a proof to the growing influence of African creatives on the global stage.
The exhibition solidified Casild Contemporary’s role as a critical space for diasporic and Pan-African dialogue and positioned the featured artists as significant cultural voices to watch.