Rele Gallery, known for showing off amazing art from Africa and beyond, is opening a new spot in London on February 22nd, joining its established locations in Lagos, Nigeria, and Los Angeles.

It’s official!! @ReleGallery is coming to London 🎉 https://t.co/TCTuNYSUa6

— Adenrele Sonariwo (@denrelesonariwo) January 25, 2024

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Rele Gallery (@relegallery)

Adenrele Sonariwo, the gallery’s founder, aims to promote African Art and foster a sense of national pride, as reflected in the Yoruba meaning of “Rele” as “going home.” Since its inception in 2015, Rele Gallery has been dedicated to platforming emerging African and diaspora artists, bridging the art gap across continents.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Rele Gallery (@relegallery)

Sonariwo’s ambition for expansion was evident in the gallery’s relocation from Onikan to Ikoyi in Lagos and from Melrose Avenue to N Western Avenue in Los Angeles. Now, with a new base in Mayfair, London, known for its flagship galleries, Sonariwo aims to tap into the city’s buzzing art scene. 

Having studied at the University of Arts in London, her return to Lagos in 2010 fueled her mission to transform the local art space, earning her national and international acclaim, including co-curating Nigeria’s first pavilion at the Venice Biennale in 2017.

London’s status as a hub for African art, with galleries like Jack Bell, Ed Cross, and Tiwani Contemporary, coupled with events like the 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair, makes it an ideal location for Rele Gallery’s expansion. Sonariwo plans to showcase artists from Africa and the diaspora, enhancing dialogue between them, as seen in upcoming exhibitions featuring artists from Kenya, Korea, and Nigeria. 

The new Rele gallery in Mayfair, spanning approximately 3000 square feet over two floors and directed by Alessandra Olivi, is set to open on February 22nd.