This morning I had the privilege to attend a hospitality coffee offered by the American Women’s Club (AWC) hosted at the Nike Gallery.
Renowned batik artist Nike Davies-Okundayoe has turned the first floor of her Lekki Estates home into a showroom. Nike was personally there to show us around and to answer questions. Her daughter was also there modeling some of the batik skirts and sashes. Her home show cases not only her art but other artists thus paintings, beads, fabric and other artwork were displayed. It was a wonderfully interesting morning.
Nike Davies-Okundayoe is one of the most well-known and contemporary artists of West Africa.
She is an active supporter of women’s rights and promoting Nigerian art forms. Nike’s Center for arts and Culture in Oshogbo trains men and women free of charge in the Nigerian art forms. (Oshogbo is a major market town in southwest Nigeria that is the center of production of adire [indigo pattern dying].) Nike is working to keep alive the techniques of traditional Yoruba art: adire, batik, beadwork, wood carving, mosaics, appliqué and even drumming and dancing. Nike is also an active opponent of the economic slavery of women through the practice of polygamy. You can learn more at www.nikeart.com
The Elephant Dream by Nike Davies
Osun Goddess by Nike Davies