1
Aabru Art shines spotlight on African Masters
4-9 February 2013, The Gallery in Cork Street
London, 21 November 2012 Aabru Art today announces its pop-up exhibition, Transcending
Boundaries, opening to the public on 4 February 2013 at The Gallery in Cork Street.
The first pop-up gallery of its kind in London, Transcending Boundaries will display exceptional
contemporary art from West Africa. Specialising in African art, Aabru Art has chosen 21 leading
Nigerian artists, including recognised masters, Edosa Ogiugo, Abiodun Olaku, Ben Osaghae and
sculptors Bunmi Babatunde, Fidelis Odogwu and Reuben Ugbine, to take part in the show.
Aabru Art works closely with a small group of artists who create these highly sought after pieces.
Ranging in style from Olaku’s stunningly lifelike oil paintings and Osaghae’s socio-political
depictions of local Nigerian life and culture, to Babatunde’s fascination for the human form in large-
scale bronze and wood and Ugbine’s playful manipulations and three- dimensional pieces using
tribal imagery.
The work of these masters has been exhibited across Africa and the world but the artists are
relatively unknown outside of Africa, with the exception of a handful of devotees. Aabru Art is a
London based firm focused on sourcing, marketing and distributing West African contemporary art
to the international buyer. Set up on the belief that there is a wealth of unexplored talent from West
Africa that deserves a global audience.
Aabru Art works in partnership with the artists to raise awareness and understanding of West
African contemporary art in the international market and educate investors and collectors of the
potential investment opportunities that exist.
Aabru Art was founded by Anshu Bahanda in 2011 after a life-long passion for art and connections
with West Africa meant that she was able to explore the work being created in Nigeria.
Anshu Bahanda says: “Transcending Boundaries will be the first chance for many people outside of
Images shown: Abiodun Olaku Life Goes On (Lagos); Ben Osaghae Child Abuse-1; Fidelis Odogwu CITY SCAPE
Africa to see the work of these incredible artists. The show will be a real celebration of the immense
talent working in Africa today and I hope will lead to further opportunities for the artists to show to
the widest audience possible.”
Transcending Boundaries will run from 4-9 February at The Cork Street Gallery, 28 Cork Street,
Mayfair, and will launch to media on the morning of 4 February, with an evening event including DJ
Peter Adjaye.
For more information, a full list of works and images or interviews please contact:
Tom Ville or Eleanor Hutchins at Four Communications
firstname.surname@fourcommunications.com or 020 3023 9075
Notes to Editors
Aabru Art was founded by Anshu Bahanda in 2011 to work in partnership with artists, help
build private and corporate art collections and consult with curators and collectors from all
over the world. For more information please go to: http://www.aabru.co.uk/art
The pop-up exhibition is supported by Seven Energy, Grant Thornton, Sollatek and Amaya
Capital