On this episode, we speak to designer-cum-curator Olufisayo Bakare on her journey to becoming a curator, the responsibilities of holding such a position and the future of the African Art Market as it relies on specific industry stakeholders.

Nowadays the verb “to curate” appears frequently in our everyday lives, we listen to curated playlist, eat from curated menus and even stream films from curated platforms but we rarely discuss the importance of the curatorial practice in the visual arts.

With a background in Interior Design, Olufisayo Bakare has trained her eye to find the rare balance between simplicity with African artistry in her work. Her keen interest in ‘carving the phenomenal out of the familiar’ has inspired her curatorial practice by establishing her as an ally in the preservation, documentation, and representation of African culture through various art forms. She is an integral part of the ‘Precolonial Societies of Nigeria’ program, formulating the teaching manual for the Ile-Ife pre-colonial society. Buttressing this, Bakare is an active member of the ongoing ‘Museums of the Future’ program facilitated by Geothe Institut. She is also the Founder of Interior Living, and The Yellow of Lagos.

On this episode of “Art Professionals Africa Unplugged, we speak to Founder of O’DA Art & Obida Collective Obida Obioha on The Art of Collecting in Nigeria: Art investment and tips on building a diverse collection.

Obida Obioha is the creative director of a number of design related enterprises: ODA Art (art advisory), O’DA(Interior Design) and Obida.Store (Product and fashion design). The unifying thread interweaving these seemingly disparate businesses is the desire to spread beauty and wellness into people’s lives.

Obida trained at Scuola Politecnica di Design in Milan where he obtained a Master’s Degree in Interior Design and a Diploma in Product Design. He has a sharp eye for design that works by fusing African Aesthetics with a Contemporary nod.

On this episode, we speak to Founder and Creative director of Retro Africa, Dolly Kola-Balogun.

Dolly share some incredible insights on her journey into the art industry after launching retro Africa in 2015 in Abuja. Under the guidance of the late curator Bisi Silva, she was able to forge a partnership with Igo Diarra, Director and curator of Galerie Medina to bridge the curatorial divide between Anglophone and Francophone West Africa. Over the years she has worked on some interesting projects including an exhibition at the 2017 Documenta 14 in Germany and Greece, as well as being the art consultant for the Kwara State government in Nigeria. Retro Africa today stands as the first Nigerian gallery to participate in Art Basel Hong Kong and Tokyo Gendai. Dolly also co-owns Atelier Hotels and Pavilion Restaurant, where she serves as one of the Directors.

On this episode, we look at the intricacies of the art market from a Nigerian lens. In the midst of a global economic downturn, inflation and political turbulence across several African nations, we look at the strategies and business practices that she adopts to balance and build a successful organization.

This podcast is brought to you by Art Report Africa (@Artreport.africa) & Pond Collective (@Pondcollective) .