By: Goodluck E.Adubazi, Abuja.

A bold new visual narrative of Nigeria’s capital is set to emerge as artists and cultural stakeholders prepare for the opening of the ICONIC Abuja exhibition, an initiative aimed at reshaping global perceptions of the city beyond its architectural identity.

At a press conference on Tuesday, German Deputy Spokesperson, Dorothea Wendel, announced Germany’s commitment to supporting artists and photographers in telling deeper, more nuanced stories about Abuja. She emphasized that the initiative seeks to empower creative voices to redefine how Nigeria’s capital is seen both locally and internationally.

Convener of the project, Bolaji Alonge, revealed that the exhibition will run from April 18 to 26, 2026, at the Thought Pyramid Art Centre. The project is being executed in collaboration with German photographer Katharina Sasse and features thirteen Nigerian artists working across photography, painting, and mixed media.

According to Alonge, the initiative is designed to project the beauty and complexity of Abuja to the world while encouraging artists to adopt more positive and constructive narratives about Nigeria through their work.
ICONIC Abuja builds on the success of ICONIC Lagos held at the Didi Museum in 2022.

While the Lagos edition focused on a bustling coastal metropolis, the Abuja exhibition turns its attention to a purpose-built capital conceived in 1976 as a symbol of unity and national aspiration.

Organizers say the exhibition challenges conventional views of Abuja as merely a city of grand plans and monumental landmarks. Instead, it presents the capital as a living, evolving space shaped by everyday experiences, where ambition and uncertainty coexist.

The exhibition features works from a diverse group of artists, including John Ali, Ahmed Michael, Aisha Mbaya, Mustapha Musa, Dan Ogbogu, Yemi Olapo, Olaosun Oluwapelumi, Babajide Olusanya, Oluwaseun Otokiti, Austin Orakwelu, Olanrewaju Shittu, Moses Sodipo, and Christabel Uchechi.

Through their works, the artists explore themes ranging from identity and survival to resilience, aspiration, and cultural memory.

Highlights include depictions of urban subcultures, economic struggles, and the symbolic weight of national identity, often framed through everyday life in the city.

Alonge, known for his platform Eyes of a Lagos Boy, continues to expand the visual language of Nigerian cities by combining documentary storytelling with narrative depth. Meanwhile, Sasse brings an international perspective, focusing on subtle, often overlooked moments that reveal the true character of Abuja.

Beyond the exhibition, organizers have outlined a series of public engagement activities, including a visual storytelling masterclass scheduled for April 23 and a children’s creative workshop on April 25, underscoring the project’s commitment to mentorship and artistic development.

Supported by the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany Abuja, the exhibition positions Abuja within a broader global cultural dialogue while challenging dominant narratives that often define cities by infrastructure alone.

As global visual culture continues to spotlight a limited number of iconic cities, ICONIC Abuja offers a timely and necessary shift—presenting Nigeria’s capital not as a fixed image, but as a dynamic and evolving story shaped by its people.