The Legacy Arts Foundation (LAF) is proud to announce the selection of 20 talented Nigerian painters for Old Masters by New Masters, an intensive two-week international art masterclass taking place in Lagos from 7-8, 2025.

The program, presented in partnership with the Belgian Embassy, will be led by acclaimed Belgian professor Wouter Steel and celebrated Nigerian artist and scholar Dr. Bolaji Ogunwo. The masterclass will provide participants with hands-on training in classical European painting techniques. It will culminate in a public exhibition of participants’ works on July 21 in Lagos and a special event in Abuja at the Belgian Ambassador’s residence on July 24.

“We are grateful to The Osa Okunbo Foundation (TOOF) for joining us in making this opportunity accessible tomore artists, and proud to work alongside the Belgian Embassy to facilitate this cross-cultural exchange,” said Niyi Adenubi, Founder of the Legacy Arts Foundation. “It’s an honour to be able to support artists whosework reflects the greatness of our nation and inspires me personally.”

This year’s expanded cohort is made possible through the support of The Osahon Okunbo Foundation (TOOF),which is sponsoring 10 of the 20 selected artists. TOOF’s generous contribution complements LAF’s sponsorship of 10 participants, doubling the reach and impact of the program.

“Nigerians are innately creative and that ingenuity shines across every sector, including the arts. But without access and the right infrastructure, creativity often fades before it ever finds its voice. That’s why we chose tosupport this initiative: to open the door for more deserving artists to participate and be seen. Because in the end,it’s not just about the work they create today, it’s about the legacy they leave behind. Our culture deserves that investment. So do our people,” says Okunbo, Founder of TOOF, while speaking on the partnership with Legacy Arts Foundation.

Speaking on the event, the Belgian Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency, Ambassador
Pieter Leenkgegt said, “Old Masters for Future Masters is the long overdue meeting between the visual tricks from the Low Countries’ pictorial traditions and the strong neorealist undercurrent in Nigerian contemporary art. Tapping into that connection with a bi-national teacher duo and budding artists in Lagos is truly thrilling and holds a renewed promise for our bilateral cultural relations.”

Also joining the initiative as a cultural media partner is Eyes of a Lagos Boy, the dynamic platform committed tospotlighting visual storytelling and creative talent across Nigeria. Through their lens, the program will bedocumented and amplified, helping to connect the artists’ work to wider audiences both locally andinternationally.
Selected participants come from across Nigeria and reflect a wide spectrum of emerging and mid-career talent. Inaddition to technical training, the program includes guest lectures from curators, gallerists, and art journalists,providing a platform for visibility, growth, and long-term mentorship.