Omanghana
Nigerian multidisciplinary artist Haneefah Adam has been announced as the winner of the inaugural Ventures Platform–YSMA Futures Art Award, a new contemporary art prize designed to spotlight innovative public art and creative excellence in Nigeria.
The award is a joint initiative between venture capital firm Ventures Platform and the Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art (YSMA) at Pan-Atlantic University. It was formally unveiled during Ventures Platform’s 10th-anniversary celebration dinner held in Lagos, following a competitive nationwide selection process.
Winning Project: Bloom in Unexpected Places
As the first recipient of the award, Haneefah Adam will receive a ₦10 million commission to bring her winning concept to life.
Her project, titled Bloom in Unexpected Places, is a large-scale public sculpture that explores themes of resilience, growth, and transformation in challenging environments.
The planned installation includes:
- A 12-foot outdoor sculpture designed for permanent display
- A location within the Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art sculpture garden at Pan-Atlantic University, Lagos
- A conceptual focus on how creativity and human ingenuity can flourish in unexpected conditions
The work responds directly to the award’s guiding theme: “Reimagine the future and build into form through art.”
A Major Milestone in Adam’s Artistic Career
Although Haneefah Adam has already earned international recognition, including features by CNN, the BBC, and the Financial Times, this commission marks a significant turning point in her artistic journey.
It represents:
- Her first major institutional art commission
- Her largest permanent public artwork to date
- A new phase in her evolving multidisciplinary practice
Adam is a self-taught artist whose work spans painting, photography, digital illustration, textiles, and experimental food art, often blending visual storytelling with cultural commentary.
She is also widely known for her viral Hijarbie project, which reimagines Barbie dolls in contemporary modest fashion, earning global attention for its creative reinterpretation of identity and representation.
Art, Innovation, and Institutional Collaboration
The Ventures Platform–YSMA Futures Art Award is structured as a three-year partnership aimed at integrating contemporary African art into broader conversations around innovation, entrepreneurship, and societal development.
Through annual commissions, the initiative seeks to provide artists with platforms to create permanent public works that engage with evolving cultural and technological landscapes.
Organizers say the program is designed to position African artists at the intersection of creativity and innovation, fostering dialogue between the arts, education, and the tech ecosystem.
Public Unveiling Set for October
The completed sculpture, Bloom in Unexpected Places, is scheduled for official unveiling in October 2026, where it will become a permanent feature of the YSMA sculpture garden in Lagos.
The installation is expected to stand as both a landmark artwork and a symbol of emerging artistic voices shaping Nigeria’s contemporary cultural landscape.
Source: Omanghana
