The Thought Pyramid Art Centre has been in existence since 2008. It was constructed in the heart of Abuja (Wuse II), and Lagos (Ikoyi ) as a space to enable new ideas to be incubated and nurtured; where there are no boundaries between art, craft, design, and thought; and where thinkers will meet to dialogue on new directions for African art.
The name of the gallery was derived from a thought of a symbol which identifies the cradle of civilisation, commonly known to be Egypt, where the ancient pyramids can be found, hence the name Thought Pyramid. One of the cornerstones of Thought Pyramid’s ethos, as a tribute to the diversity of African art practice, is to promote understanding, appreciation, and enjoyment of art and its values in an accessible, contemporary and unpretentious environment. The gallery has had visits from delegates and diplomats from all around the world including a visit from the past president of Germany Joachim Gauck and the Duchess of Cornwall, HRH Camilla
Mission
The mission of the Thought Pyramid Art Centre is to collect, conserve, and study modern and contemporary art of Africa, and the African Diaspora; by exhibiting the art of our times from a variety of perspectives while situating them with the context of a global art movement. The gallery aims to enrich the lives of art enthusiasts, patrons and collectors through the management, marketing, education, presentation and exhibition of artworks that meet some need, that advance creativity, artistic excellence and innovation for the benefit of humanity and our environments. Thought pyramid operates with the objective to carefully mount and professionally flaunt resilient artworks of edifying and emotive delights that appreciate in value, and provide their stakeholders with unique experience, and the special satisfaction of durable, trusted and undying investment.
Vision
The centre’s vision is to deliberately offer an enthralling and realistic art centre with a sense of friendliness, warmth, corporate and individual pride, where people can come to find and discover original creativity in its stark reality. A major part of the Thought Pyramid Art Centre’s work is to bring art appreciation to the general public through an active focus on art education at all level: from kids to adults. One of the ways the centre aims to do this is through the Music, Art and Poetry program (M.A.P). Other events at The Thought Pyramid Art Centre include exhibitions of the visual arts, artistic symposium, lectures and workshops, theatre performance, poetry, spoken word and musical events. The centre also works with their partners to train art administrators and curators. There is a compelling need in Nigeria for alternative Art spaces that bridge the gap between commercial galleries and traditional art institutions; spaces that enable artists and curators to innovate with shows that do not fit into the boundaries of the existing art market. The Thought Pyramid Art Centre intends to fill that gap.
1. Art Dubai, 2015
2. Art X Lagos, 2018.
3. Art Expo New York, 2019.
4. Art X Lagos, 2019.
Some of their best exhibitions include:
1. New Conversations, 2014. An exhibition of modern and contemporary art with exhibiting masters such as Suzanne Wenger, Bruce Onabrkpeya, Ben Osawe, MurainaOyelami, Twin Seven-Seven, JimohBuraimoh, KoldeOshinowo, etc. 2. What the Eagles saw,2014. An exhibition of modern and contemporary art with exhibiting artists such as Georgina Beier, David Dale, Ben Osawe, GbengaOffo, etc. 3. Today in History, October 2015. An exhibition of painting, sculptures and mixed media, modern and contemporary art with exhibiting artistes such as Gerald Chukwuma, Umeh Bede, Sanusi Abdullahi, etc. 4. Standing-things-on-their-heads, November 2015. An exhibition of wood cuts by Georg Baselitz and the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany. 5. I want to experience and lift boundaries, January 2016. An exhibition of art installations by Mr JelleBulten and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. 6. Photo junctions, 2016. A photography exhibitionwith Lagosphoto. 7. Make the best out of junk, 2016. An exhibition by JunkManfromAfrika and the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany. 8. Innovation, 2017. A photo exhibition by Hannah Buhari. 9. A show of wealth, October 2017. An exhibition of paintings by Henry Eghosa. 10. The provenance, November 2017. An exhibition of modern and contemporary arts with exhibiting artists such as Obinna Makata, Sam Ovraiti, Donald Onuoha, Ola Balogun, Bruce Onabrakpeya, etc. 11. Framed images of time and memory, December 2017. An exhibition of drawings, watercolour and mixed media by Professor Jerry Buhari. 12. Simply carnival, January 2018. A photography exhibition by GodswillAyemoba and Julius Umogbai. 13. Vision of the last quarter, March 2018. An exhibition of the masters of Nigerian art: Pioneers of Osogbo Art School. Exhibiting artistes included Rufus Ogundele, Twin Seven Seven, JimohBuraimoh, MurainaOyelami, Jacob Afolabi and AdebisiFagbumi. 14. The journey of an African monarch, May 2018. A photography exhibition by OmoregieOsakpolor. 15. Collecting Moments, September 2018. A solo exhibition of paintings by DoofanKwaghhool. 16. Imagining a beautiful life, November 2018. A solo exhibition of paintings by HafsatSani Sami. 17. Apewo, December 2018. A solo art exhibition of paintings by Tola Wewe. 18. Oeuvre, January 2019. A solo exhibition of paintings by Tom Sunday. 19. Icing on a burnt cake, March 2019. A solo exhibition of wood panels by Erasmus Onyishi. 20. Forms from my sky, June 2019. A solo exhibition by AkachukwuChukwuemeka. 21. And the centre refuses to hold, July 2019. An exhibition of art in diverse media in celebration of Africa’s pathfinding novel Things Fall Apart at 60. 22. The rich Abriba heritage, August 2019. A photo exhibition by Philip Akwari. 23. Argungun Series 8, October 2019. A solo art exhibition by OghagbonEboigbodin Moses. 24. Motions and emotions, November 2019. A solo art exhibition of oil paintings by EnumaChukwu. 25. O’sagacity, February 2020. An exhibition of bead paintings and beaded sculptures. 26. The colour of our heart is the colour of our city, September 2020. Aperformative-participatory exhibition of installations by Amarachi Okafor.
About the founder
Jeff Ajueshi is a creative director, curator and gallerist in Nigeria. In 2007, he founded Thought Pyramid Art Centre in Abuja, Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory. In these intervening years, Thought Pyramid has become the creative space that focuses on the interplay between visual art and culture. At Thought Pyramid Art Centre, Jeff has curated over 60 exhibitions. These exhibitions such as Vision of the Last Quarter, Next of Kin, The Provenance, New Conversations: What the Eagles Saw, used the works of some of Nigeria’s greatest art masters to recount Nigeria’s past and to point out a future Nigeria should desire. These exhibitions presented the works of artists such as Ben Enwonwu, Ben Osawe, Bruce Onobrakpeya, OkpuEze, David Dale, Erhabor Emokpae, Jimoh Buraimoh, Muraina Oyelami, Rufus Ogundele, Twins 77, Bisi Fakeye and Kolade Oshinowo, to mention a few.
In response to the need for a purpose-built space for artists and art lovers to interact, Jeff completed the construction of a new home for Thought Pyramid Art Centre in 2014. This building, which houses a gallery, space for dialogue sessions, arts and craft shop, and lounge and restaurant, is located in the highbrowWuse 2, in Abuja. The Centre has become a major point for art lovers, writers, poets and policy wonks who meet under various platforms to discuss how to advance the socio-cultural, economic, and political future of Nigeria.
In line with his commitment to advance contemporary art in Nigeria, Jeff also opened a similar space in Ikoyi, Lagos in the year 2017. This is in response to the need for more spaces for art and culture in Nigeria’s megapolis, Lagos. The opening of the Centre was in line with activities to mark the tenth anniversary of Thought Pyramid Art Centre.
As part of his commitment to the growth of art in Nigeria, Jeff established the Foundation for Arts and Creative Talents (FACT) ,an artists and writers residency program in Oghara, Delta State in Nigeria. Through this program, he aims to positively impact the unemployed youths in the Nigerian Niger Delta.
Jeff provides thorough leadership in the Nigerian art space as a reputable collaborator, discussant on collaborative strategies and practice in colleges of arts and design in Nigeria. He has also continued to manage a diverse range of art projects including the Music, Art & Poetry project (M.A.P), Life Drawing Platform, Autism Art project and many other innovative projects.
Creativity as defined as Jideonwor is versatility, improvisation and consistency. Artists whose styles have influenced his work are Leonardo Da Vinci, AbdullasalamAbdukareem, Abiodun Olaku, Barbara Bradley and Voka.
Artists
Some of the artists represented by Thought Pyramid Art Centre include: