Art and Professionality in Nigeria: The Artists of the Universal Studios of Art, Lagos, Nigeria

Abstract

The Nigerian Heritage is translated through her arts and culture. Traditionally, these two expressive ways constitute a factor of identification of any group, but were further strengthened and sustained by the introduction of schools and churches. Art flourished with the contributions of, mostly, schools, workshops and studios spread around the country. The Universal Studios of Art, Lagos happened to be a stakeholder to the growth of art professionalism for more than fifteen years. The studios accommodated sculpture, painting, metal design, graphics and ceramics. It is a centre for art development for the formal and informal youths and art enthusiasts in our society. The studios aim at improving a candidate equipped with qualitative draughtsmanship for employment or self-employed through studio practice. Interestingly, the Universal Studios of Art under the Founder Bisi Fakeye and other artists who are co-founders have turned out many artists over the years including students on industrial training programme and others. The studios artistic qualification and disposition remained on the strength of instructors in various disciplines that had heightened the creative concepts and styles of the school. This dissemination of knowledge had remained a dormant factor without adequate documentation. It is therefore, the objective of this study to document the activities of the Artists of the Universal Studios of Art since inception. The research would examine, their professional dispositions, biographical position with their styles, conceptual qualities and development.