Whenever I meet someone new, one of the first questions I get is, "Are you making sales?"

I used to be quite taken aback by the question but I soon realised that the question is not out of place.

The world art market is a lopsided world which favours the established and known artists much more than the emerging and new artists. But in Nigeria, it is much worse. Like I stated in a TVC interview not too long ago, the Nigerian art industry is plagued by a general lack of appreciation for art.

The average Nigerian art lover who has many 'artworks' at home does not particularly care if the artwork in his living room is a printed picture randomly picked from the internet or a plagiarised piece of art. To the untrained eye, if it is a beautiful painting, pottery or sculpture, then it is art.

And for the people who have managed to develop techniques and styles way different from what is traditionally known, many are generally out of the conversation. Even the so called curators tend to relegate the works to the world of craft while others advice them to make 'sellable' art.

This puts so many artists jostling for sales to make more of the art types that sell, while many focus on painting celebrities to push their art. But are they to blame?

Now the problem with the so called sellable art is that the artist has endeavoured to water down the art of self expression, focusing mainly on what the audience wants to see and not necessarily what is right or true to him.

As it occurs, even the few who 'genuinely' love art will only agree to buy your best works for a fraction of the price you would sell them abroad, while praising your creativity and admiring the aesthetics.

The clamour for the return of Nigerian artefacts from foreign museums and collectors is a fine curtain that appears to highlight how much our artefacts are valued by us, but are they, really? History has it that many of the artefacts had to be dug up, does the fact that they were buried show how much they were valued by us? Or did we only start valuing them after they were taken from us? Do we even deserve these artworks other than for the reason that they are ours? Had they not been plundered and taken abroad, would we have eventually expressed the immense value that we have for them? Or would they still have been underground? That is left to be said.

If you are a Nigerian artist, I would love to know how easy you find traversing the Nigerian art terrain and how you manage to make sales and build an enviable life.

Damnnn niggar
Artist work one hell of a funny career

All these things are not appreciated here,even among d so called rich only few of them appreciate things like this so it’s gradually killing d industry

Many of them have ignore the hustle n move to what can put food on their table like asap

The internet is your gem. They created NFTs for artists and artistes so that should be a great way to go global!

Ermm

6

Just draw pussy, u go sell

Everything is hard

The artwork way I get na my picture frame and frames of pablo escobar

G

If no be artwork way get quote of motivation make e day him day. MFM go talk say I never pursue the devil way day disturb me I wan add another one join

Artwork day collect space and e day cause heat for house.

Wahala for who be artist o

Me don japa leave that thing tey tey.
It's underappreciated here.
Sometimes your portraits fit dey pity you seff.

Good question. And how do you survive in other professions ?

There are many job opportunities for artists. Probably not here in Nigeria. Not everyone should draw on a portrait and sell on the street or so. That's too basic.
1. You can be an animator and work for companies that make cartoons and anime
2. You can work for a designer (major brand that will pay well) and bring their ideas into picture forms. This case, you need to know about using tech for your drawings. Going into art has gone beyond using your hand to draw, you need to be able to combine it with tech to make it better than the ones who can only use hand drawings. Many artists know about colours and the combinations. This is an advantage to delve into the fashion line but not as a designer but as an artist. Every clothing company needs an artist or a creative.
3. You can be an art director.

There are many jobs that require the need of someone who can sketch, who is creative with an active imagination, and that's who an artist is, but I doubt there are such jobs here in Nigeria. Being an artist doesn't necessarily mean you need to open a gallery. No wonder our cartoons have not improved. The figures of our cartoons aren't really humanlike...it's either the head is too big or the arms are too tiny. Even if the cartoons can be created well, the script is another important aspect.

If you need to Japa to get such jobs then you should polish your skills because over there, they are not lacking artists. You need to be extra creative, skilled in tech for your drawings, and know how to sell yourself well.

Believe me it's really hard. And most of these artists are so broke but use packaging to cover them.. They go thru hell to make it. That's why they seem to develop attitude when they finally do

An artist should not only depend on his art work, dey engage in things like MC, radio presenter, DJ etc

Do Part Time Yahoo Join

As for me... Anything wey goes as long as my untrained eye like am


Left for me ... artworks would have a fixed price..

Person go carry money wey fit pass my family 7 generations life savings go buy 1 single piece of artwork wey fit be even just random strokes of brush

Life no balance

Nah God

Initially when I started, it wasn't easy for me.
If I look back, I still remember yesterday, the sleepless nights, struggles and obstacles encountered.

But I thank God for today, I thank God for the fame, money and all my achievements.

Last year I won Amvca award and last two year my music went global in which Davido, Phyno and some other musicians had to contact me for them to partner with me in my music career.

Once again, thanks op for bringing this kind of topic alive

Dbull come in here

Please lemme see your works

Artistry in Nigeria is dead..
Nigerians are suffering to give a darm about art.
No be who don chop Belle full they admirer art.
Talk less to buy..

lol

Reading...

Of what importance is Art work to Africans ?

Just a thin line that separate your art and breakthrough.

When it's appointed time, not even the devil can stop the redeemed.

Chai

It's such a noble profession.

...but mostly it's the rich that can pay or care for art work in Nigeria.

Artbydris:
Whenever I meet someone new, one of the first questions I get is, "Are you making sales?"

I used to be quite taken aback by the question but I soon realised that the question is not out of place.

The world art market is a lopsided world which favours the established and known artists much more than the emerging and new artists. But in Nigeria, it is much worse. Like I stated in a TVC interview not too long ago, the Nigerian art industry is plagued by a general lack of appreciation for art.

The average Nigerian art lover who has many 'artworks' at home does not particularly care if the artwork in his living room is a printed picture randomly picked from the internet or a plagiarised piece of art. To the untrained eye, if it is a beautiful painting, pottery or sculpture, then it is art.

And for the people who have managed to develop techniques and styles way different from what is traditionally known, many are generally out of the conversation. Even the so called curators tend to relegate the works to the world of craft while others advice them to make 'sellable' art.

This puts so many artists jostling for sales to make more of the art types that sell, while many focus on painting celebrities to push their art. But are they to blame?

Now the problem with the so called sellable art is that the artist has endeavoured to water down the art of self expression, focusing mainly on what the audience wants to see and not necessarily what is right or true to him.

As it occurs, even the few who 'genuinely' love art will only agree to buy your best works for a fraction of the price you would sell them abroad, while praising your creativity and admiring the aesthetics.

The clamour for the return of Nigerian artefacts from foreign museums and collectors is a fine curtain that appears to highlight how much our artefacts are valued by us, but are they, really? History has it that many of the artefacts had to be dug up, does the fact that they were buried show how much they were valued by us? Or did we only start valuing them after they were taken from us? Do we even deserve these artworks other than for the reason that they are ours? Had they not been plundered and taken abroad, would we have eventually expressed the immense value that we have for them? Or would they still have been underground? That is left to be said.

If you are a Nigerian artist, I would love to know how easy you find traversing the Nigerian art terrain and how you manage to make sales and build an enviable life.

Outdated career! Artists survived then before the advent of camera! However, I still appreciate artworks most especially the ancient ones! But these days, people are looking for what to eat first b4 they can think of buying an art work!