The Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art (YSMA) at Pan-Atlantic University is set for the much-anticipated sophomore edition of its landmark exhibition, Collecting Now’ 2.0, commencing October 11, 2025.
Happening in the Olori Funmilayo Shyllon Exhibition Gallery, the show runs through February 9, 2026. It features a stunning selection of 90 works—spanning painting, sculpture, photography, and mixed media—that reflect the intersection of individual taste and collective Nigerian heritage.
This year’s showcase spotlights six distinguished Nigerian private collections, featuring loans from Olufemi Akinsanya, Ifeyinwa Momah, Tayo Odunsi, Nonso Okpala, Bimpe Nkontchou, and Yemi Ogunbiyi. This rare convergence of traditional, modern, and contemporary pieces affirms ‘Collecting Now’ as an essential national platform.
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Building on the success of its 2024 inaugural show, the exhibition highlights the crucial role collectors play in powering and sustaining Nigeria’s creative economy. A special focus is placed on the visions of two pioneering women collectors, illustrating how collecting transcends mere acquisition, acting instead as a profound way of life and a powerful force for cultural advocacy.
“The Collecting Now series reinforces YSMA’s role as a pioneering institution that brings private visions into public spaces,” said Dr. Jess Castellote, Director of the Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art. “We are not only presenting exceptional works of art but also shaping a critical conversation about collecting as a cultural practice that ensures continuity, strengthens our art ecosystem, and connects Nigeria’s artistic legacy with future generations.”
Reflecting on her participation in the exhibition, one of the featured collectors, Ifeyinwa Momah, stated; “For me, art is everyday living—it fills my spaces, shapes my memories, and inspires how I see the world. This exhibition is deeply meaningful because it allows these personal experiences to be encountered publicly, sparking conversations that affirm the value of art in our daily lives. I am proud to stand alongside fellow collectors in sharing our journeys through this platform at YSMA.”
The exhibition enjoys the continued support of Ark Insurance Brokers, which, for the second time, are sponsoring the insurance of the entirety of works on display. Their renewed partnership underscores their position as a leading brokerage provider for the arts in Nigeria, with a longstanding commitment to supporting culture and creativity
alongside their broader insurance expertise.
Also speaking ahead of the exhibition opening, Managing Director of Ark Insurance Group, Kayode Awogboro, noted that the company’s “Partnership with YSMA for ‘Collecting Now’, reflects our enduring belief that Nigerian art is a national treasure
worthy of world-class protection.
“As a trusted name in insurance, we take pride in safeguarding collections of immense cultural value while affirming our commitment to the arts as part of the fabric of society.”
Through this initiative, YSMA affirms its position as a pioneering institution dedicated to advancing cultural scholarship, deepening public access to art, and celebrating the vision of Nigerian collectors as curators and preservers of history and heritage.
