Oyasaf

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The foundation was created by Omoba Yemisi Adedoyin Shyllon in 2007.{{Cite web|url=http://chimurengachronic.co.za/the-nigerian-art-of-patronage/|title=The Nigerian Art of Patronage|website=Chimurengachronic.co.za|access-date=2017-05-05}}{{Cite web|url=http://lagosstate.gov.ng/blog/2017/01/28/gov-ambode-first-lady-minister-lai-mohammed-at-opening-of-rasheed-gbadamosi-art-exhibition/|title=GOV. AMBODE, FIRST LADY, MINISTER LAI MOHAMMED AT OPENING OF RASHEED GBADAMOSI ART EXHIBITION – Lagos State Government|website=lagosstate.gov.ng|language=en-US|access-date=2017-05-05}}

In March 2020, the Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art is due to open, a contemporary art museum financed by Oyasaf. The 1,200-foot-square new museum, designed by the architect Jesse Castellote, will be owned and managed by the Pan-Atlantic University. The museum is Nigeria's first privately-funded university museum.Rebecca Anne Proctor, [https://news.artnet.com/art-world/shyllon-museum-of-art-in-nigeria-1775025 With Help from a Nigerian Prince, a Bold New Contemporary Art Museum Is Set to Open in Lagos], Artnet.com, 11 February 2020

Oyasaf houses over 7,000 artworks,{{Cite news|url=https://news.artnet.com/market/worlds-top-100-art-collectors-part-two-513953|title=The artnet News Index: The World's Top 100 Art Collectors for 2016, Part Two|date=2016-06-15|work=artnet News|access-date=2017-05-05}} including sculptures, paintings and other media, as well as over 55,000 photographic shots of Nigeria's cultural festivals.{{Cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/17/arts/africa-contemporary-art-investment/index.html|title=The irresistible rise of African art|first=Jacopo |last=Prisco|website=CNN|access-date=2017-05-05}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.economist.com/node/16705453|title=A nice new market|date=2010-07-29|work=The Economist|access-date=2017-05-05|issn=0013-0613}}

The foundation regularly sponsors foreign and Nigerian scholars, curators, artists and art historians to interact with and utilize its art collection for their studies and researches, collaborate with Nigeria’s artists, curators, museums, galleries, other collectors and Nigerian art institutions, for promoting Nigerian art and culture to the world.

It sponsored seventeen fellows from the USA, Kenya, South Africa, Ghana, Germany, Switzerland and Austria. Some of the previous beneficiaries of the Oyasaf fellowship program are from the following institutions: University of Chicago (USA), University of Wisconsin (USA), Stanford University (USA), University of Vienna (Austria), Rhodes University (South Africa), Ziko Museum (South Africa), Columbia University (USA).{{Cite news|url=https://www.thenigerianvoice.com/news/58506/1/at-home-in-oyasafs-haven-of-arts.html|title=AT HOME IN OYASAF'S HAVEN OF ARTS|work=TheNigerianVoice.com|access-date=2017-05-05}}{{Cite web|url=http://vansa.co.za/Projects/western-cape/news/focus-on-nigeria-at-learn-africa-love-africa-art-talk|title=FOCUS ON NIGERIA AT LEARN AFRICA LOVE AFRICA ART TALK — VANSA|website=vansa.co.za|language=en|access-date=2017-05-05}} Most of the foundation's sponsored students are not Nigerian.Denrele Animasaun, [https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/07/benin-bronzes-on-loan-and-the-museums-dilemma-2/ Benin Bronzes on Loan and the Museums Dilemma (2)], Vanguardngr.com, 29 July 2018

Oyasaf has organized art workshops and collaborations with tertiary institutions and other foundations including the University of Lagos, the University of Port Harcourt and the Ufuk Dialogue Foundation of Turkey. In April 2017, after a 3-day workshop, the Oyasaf established Beyond Borders Artists Association of Nigeria (BBAAN), which organizes art exhibitions in nigeria's prisons.Omoleye Omoruyi, [https://ynaija.com/this-is-why-11-people-took-art-into-the-ikoyi-prison/ This is why 11 people took art into the Ikoyi Prison], Ynaija.com, 6 December 2018

Oyasaf lends its art to local and international museums (e.g. New York Museum of African Art, 2010-2013).{{Cite news|url=http://westernpostnigeria.com/ufuk-foundation-working-towards-peaceful-co-existence-among-nigerians/|title=UFUK Foundation…Working Towards Peaceful Co-existence among Nigerians|date=2015-03-16|work=Western Post News|access-date=2017-05-05}}{{Cite web|url=http://thesoleadventurer.com/2017/03/22/announcement-skoto-gallery-presents-works-of-ladi-kwali-and-uche-okeke/|title=ANNOUNCEMENT {{!}} SKOTO GALLERY PRESENTS WORKS OF LADI KWALI AND UCHE OKEKE|website=The Sole Adventurer|access-date=2017-05-05}}

Oyasaf donated life-size sculptural monuments to public places and institutions in Nigeria, including the eighteen life-size sculptures at the Freedom Park in Lagos and monuments to the University of Lagos and the University of Ibadan.Gregory Austin Nwakunor, Tajudeen Sowole, [https://guardian.ng/art/welcome-to-the-intriguing-world-of-wealthy-art-collectors/ Welcome to the intriguing world of wealthy art collectors], Guardian.ng, 1 March 2019

Oyasaf launched an online journal, TOJA (The Oyasaf Journal of Art), which is published under the Yemisi Shyllon Professorial Chair of the University of Port Harcourt.

{{reflist}}

• [http://oyasaf.com Official website]
• [http://www.tojaonline.org TOJA]

Category:Art collections in Nigeria

category:Private collections in Nigeria

Category:Nigerian art