Follow Us on Google
Contemporary artist Gideon Abowha has been nominated for the Eko Heritage Awards 2026 in the Outstanding Contemporary Artist of the Year category.
The nomination comes from the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture. It recognizes Gideon’s work in painting and mixed media, and how he uses art to reinterpret Nigerian cultural heritage, memory, and identity for a contemporary audience.
Gideon grew up around festivals, ceremonies, and everyday community life in Nigeria. Those moments shaped how he sees and makes art today. His practice is about memory, identity, and keeping cultural stories alive.
Other News
He works mostly with acrylic, fabric, beads, and newsprint on canvas. The pieces are layered and textured, and they feel both personal and shared. His current series, Ceremonies of Becoming, takes inspiration from the Durbar Festival, Yoruba ceremonial dance, the Argungu Fishing Festival, Mursi culture, and Fulani heritage. He’s not just documenting them. He’s retelling them for today.
His work has been featured in Tribune Online, Independent Newspaper, and PM News Nigeria. He’s also a member of a-n The Artists Information Company, the Contemporary Visual Arts Network, and the Visual Artists Association UK.
For this award, Gideon is nominated alongside Peter Kola, Alex Akano, Olumide Ake, and Grace Faniyi — artists who have also done a lot for Nigeria’s creative scene.
The Eko Heritage Awards celebrate people who are protecting and growing Nigeria’s cultural heritage. The Outstanding Contemporary Artist category is for artists whose work shows excellence, cultural relevance, and real impact.
For Gideon, this nomination is another milestone in a journey built on storytelling, culture, and advocacy.
