The UK Government Art Collection (GAC) has acquired Nengi Omuku’s striking work, “All Things Being Equal” (2024), selected by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to grace the walls of 10 Downing Street. The artwork was recently installed and featured in an image published byThe Guardian on October 10.
This acquisition marks a significant moment as the GAC prepares to celebrate its 125th anniversary, with festivities kicking off on December 5, 2024. Omuku, a Nigerian artist, divides her time between Nigeria and London, infusing her work with rich cultural narratives.
In her expressive paintings, Omuku employs the human body as a medium to convey internal experiences. Her abstracted figures are set against breathtaking celestial landscapes, drawing inspiration from nature, horticulture, and themes of creation. Using oil paint on strips of Sanyan—an indigenous fabric from pre-colonial Nigeria made from wild moth silk and industrial cotton—Omuku’s work reflects her dual cultural identity while firmly rooting her art in the Nigerian context.
Upcoming exhibitions for Omuku include prominent venues such as the de Young Museum in San Francisco (2026). Her recent and current exhibitions span a range of esteemed institutions, including Hastings Contemporary, Dulwich Picture Gallery, and the Bangkok Art Biennale, showcasing her growing influence in the contemporary art scene.
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