Galleries, Arts and Crafts Centers in Abuja

In the words of Edgar Degas, “The principles of true arts are not to portray, but to evoke.”  

Art and crafts are an integral part of any society’s culture that evokes feelings and meaning that would help us develop an appreciation of visual aesthetics. For travelers, certain features of a city evoke those feelings which enhance their experiences. 

Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country and home to over 200 ethnic groups that speak over 500 languages. It has a warm tropical climate and a unique variety of cultures, art, music, film, fashion, and food waiting to be experienced.

Art is when we learn to appreciate and value the images and artifacts across times and cultures and understand the contexts in which they were made. 

Our art, craft, and design experiences allow us to learn how to epitomize our works and others significantly. We learn to think and act as artists, makers, and designers, who work creatively and intelligently. 

People and travelers alike develop an appreciation for art, craft, and design as important consumers and audiences and understand its role in the creative and cultural industries that shape and enrich their lives.

Abuja is a growing megacity worldwide that has preserved many of this impressive cultural heritage of art and craft, housed in museums, galleries, arts and craft villages, and centers.  

GruvCity compiles lists of these places of galleries, Art and Craft Centers in Abuja that would serve as a guide to travelers during their visit to the Country’s Capital City of Abuja. 

Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC)

The National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) was established by Decree No. 3 of 1975 and amended by Decree No. 5 of 1987 (now Cap N25 Laws of the Federation 2004). It is a Federal Government organ charged with the responsibility of coordination, development, and promotion of Nigeria’s Living Arts and Culture at national and international fora.

Also, it coordinates, preserves, promotes and presents the best of Crafts, Textiles, Cuisines, Traditional Dance, Drama, Opera, Cinema, Film, Photography, Folklore, Oral Traditions, Literature, Traditional games, Indigenous architecture and deploy them as a tool for forging national unity and identity. Similarly, our cultural manifestations, which are unique and diverse, shall be at the front burner in our quest to tap into the unique resources that abound in the culture industry.

Proposed National Research Centres on Specialized Cultural Manifestations

These centers are fora for the scholastic inquiry into living cultural practices and defining the communities’ manifestations where they are found.

They also serve as platforms for cultural exchange, knowledge transmission, and preserving the unique Nigerian ensembles and aesthetics. The land has been acquired for these centers, and though construction is yet to commence, the intention is to develop suitable structures to house them.

They are:

• National Research Centre on Boat Regatta Traditions

• National Research Centre on Durbar Traditions

• National Research Centre on Masquerade Traditions

• National Research Centre on Textile Traditions

Cyprian Ekwensi Center for Arts and Culture

This is an Abuja council that organizes art-works display and festival show-casing. Formerly known as the Arts and Culture Complex, it is named after a renowned writer, Cyprian Ekwensi. It is a very safe location as it is situated directly opposite Abuja Municipal Area Council, AMAC, and about 500meters away from the Defense Headquarters. 

You might want to take along with your camera to capture the sights and take selfies when heading to Cyprian Ekwensi Center for Arts and Culture. 

The complex, which houses the FCT Social Development Secretariat and the FCT Tourism Board, serves as a center where the cream of artists, literary and creative minds meet regularly to perform, compare notes and share experiences. It hosts regular exhibitions and shows.

The gallery section of the art and craft consist of five main sections. They are: 

• Sculptures: The section has approaches like wood carvings, stone carvings, metal works, fibre grass, etc. 

• Paintings: It comprises impasto, pointillism, cubism expressionalism, realism, mannerism, sue impressionalism. Others include; paintings-landscape, portrait, outdoor, skyscape, seascape, etc.

• Ceramics: These are clay works. Approaches are pinching methods, coiling methods, slabs method, throwing methods. Organic and industrial clay type

• Textiles

• Graphics: This is the section for graphics, writing, and design, such as signage, billboards, road signs, etc.

Thought Pyramid Art Center

Thought Pyramid Art Center is rated as the No. 1 art center in Abuja. They are driven by African art practice; they promote understanding, appreciation, and enjoyment of art and its values in an accessible, contemporary, and unpretentious environment.

It is a creative landmark of the city, and its purpose is to assist artists in reaching their creative potential and promote Nigerian art on the map at home and abroad. 

It has a modern exhibition hall which also acts as a training centre for artists and curators in a programme offered throughout the year. There is also a well-stocked library with a good collection of materials on Nigerian and African art. Visitors are encouraged to feel free to drop in to view and purchase art of startling originality by the Nation’s Finest Artists.

The Thought Pyramid Art Center’s mission is to collect, conserve, and study modern and contemporary art of Africa and the African Diaspora. We will exhibit the art of our times from various perspectives while situating them with the context of a global art movement. 

Here is what a traveler said about the Thought Pyramid Art Center’s varied collection of African artwork:

“As your car enters the main gate, you get a wonderful glimpse of some metallic pieces of art. They have a good collection of African paintings inside, though not many, you’d be done within 30 mins easily. There is also an option to purchase souvenirs,” noted sss_mach7.

Nike Art Gallery 

Nike Art Gallery is an art gallery in Lagos owned by Nike Davies-Okundaye. The gallery is arguably the largest of its kind in West Africa. Housed in a five-storey tall building, it boasts about 8,000 diverse artworks from various Nigerian artists.

This village is situated on Airport Road in Lugbe Abuja, a 10-min drive from Nordic Villa. It is open from 8 am to 7 pm daily.

Nike Art has four branches: Ogidi, Lagos, Oshogbo, and Abuja – being the newest. The Abuja village consists of stone statues, carvings, and huts with animal-shaped roofs. 

There is an outdoor exhibition space for artists and teachers who live on-site, and the display of colourful batiks fusing traditional and contemporary styles. During the week, there are workshops in African dancing and drumming and the availability to sign up for individually tailored art classes. 

Tours are offered to the various Nike Villages, as well as other museums and galleries.

Bwari Pottery Village

Bwari Pottery Village is located next to the Nigerian Law School, Old Suleja Road, Bwari. The fantastic design of palm-thatched roofs and arrowhead-shaped windows, and a studio is laid out like a gallery attracts visitors to this village.

The main activity is training a new generation of potters to encourage creativity and cultural exchange to the newest enterprises. It has a shop that produces various items, from pitchers and vases to casserole dishes, teapots, and decorative lanterns.

Abuja Arts & Crafts Village

Nigeria’s Arts and Crafts at Abuja Arts & Crafts Village is located in the capital’s central business district. Located behind the Musa Yar’adua Centre Central Business District, this village is open from 8 am to late. 

It is one of the wonderful places where visitors can see and buy some of Nigeria’s arts and crafts representing the country’s culture. The art shops are thatch-roofed huts with walls made from red earth (clay) and sell various handicrafts ranging from wooden equestrian statuettes to stuffed crocodiles. An impressive collection of wooden and bronze sculptures offers plenty of good gift ideas, as do beaded necklaces and bracelets, traditional masks, leather bags, adire fabrics, and clothes. Some shops also have food and drinks. 

You might want to add Arts & Crafts Village to your Abuja travel itinerary and discover new vacation ideas via GruvCity. Currently, Abuja Arts & Crafts Village has been relocated to Life Camp.

It has been rated to be one of the best places to get artworks. If you live in or are visiting Abuja, this is the best place to shop for all kinds of bags, mats, carvings, artworks, etc.

Mama Africa Art & Craft Market

The Mama Africa Art and Craft Market is a semi-local market where you will find the display and sales of original African handmade arts, artworks, local art & crafts.

It’s a place where one can shop for indigenous art and craft products across a wide range of local artists. It is an ideal place to shop for indigenous art and craft merchandise.

They have a lot of beautiful, inspired African pieces. Each of the items tells unique stories of history and diverse culture. With a fantastic, diverse range of artworks, you’re sure to find leather accessories, woodcraft, tie and dye, paintings, sculptures, basket weaving, and fashion beads. There is something for everyone. There are a couple of restaurants here to relax in after the walk and adequate parking lots.