ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Nengi Omuku's Fauvist Gardens Challenge Lagos Urbanism

exhibition · 2026-04-28

Nengi Omuku, a Nigerian artist, is showcasing her second solo exhibition, 'We Were Like Those Who Dreamed,' at Pippy Houldsworth Gallery. This collection features new paintings that delve into the politics surrounding green spaces in urban environments. Omuku critiques the power dynamics that influence climate crises and suggests that gardens can serve as powerful symbols of equality and inclusivity. Her artwork integrates figures from both contemporary and historical images of Lagos' crowded center into Impressionistic landscapes filled with vibrant foliage and sweeping views, utilizing quick pointillist techniques in a Fauvist color scheme. The artist often highlights gardens as vital spaces for learning to navigate the world in a more sustainable and harmonious way while fostering a connection to nature.

Key facts

  • Nengi Omuku is a Nigerian artist.
  • The exhibition is titled 'We Were Like Those Who Dreamed'.
  • It is Omuku's second solo show with Pippy Houldsworth Gallery.
  • The paintings explore the politics of green spaces in urban centers.
  • Omuku questions power structures that govern climate catastrophe.
  • The garden is proposed as a radical symbol of equality and inclusiveness.
  • Figures are transplanted from contemporary and archival images of Lagos.
  • The style uses rapid pointillist brushstrokes and a Fauvist palette.

Entities

Artists

  • Nengi Omuku

Institutions

  • Pippy Houldsworth Gallery

Locations

  • Lagos
  • Nigeria

Sources