The National Democracy Stakeholders Group (NDSG) and the National Gallery of Art (NGA) have called on Nigerian artists to submit artworks for the National Art of Honour project aimed at celebrating notable figures in the country’s history.
The National Art of Honour seeks to immortalise Nigerian leaders, dead and alive, from 1914 to date, through individual or collective portraits.
According to the organisers, artists across the country are invited to submit original works for consideration. The submissions are expected to reflect the personalities and contributions of prominent Nigerians who have played significant roles in the nation’s development.
The project is being organised in collaboration with the National Gallery of Art, the federal institution responsible for preserving and promoting Nigeria’s visual arts heritage.
The organisers said artists must submit original portraits of the selected leaders in any of the following categories: painting (oil or acrylic), mixed media, relief and sculpture (fibreglass).
They added that submitted works must not have been previously exhibited or published and must clearly reflect the identity of the subject portrayed.
The organisers also encouraged artists to pay attention to creativity, originality and historical accuracy when producing their entries. Selected works will form part of a national art collection dedicated to honouring Nigerian leaders.
Established in 1993, the National Gallery of Art operates under the Federal ministry of arts, culture, tourism and creative economy and is responsible for collecting and promoting modern Nigerian art.
The gallery is led by director general Ahmed Sodangi, who was appointed in 2024. Sodangi holds a master’s degree in management and international business from Birmingham City University in the United Kingdom and previously worked at the Bank of Industry before his appointment.
