Gaining visibility is an integral part of every artist or gallery’s success in the art market. With the right tools and strategies, art professionals can quickly change their visibility from local to global in a relatively short time frame. In this article, we are spotlighting Constance & sons gallery, a top selling Artsper partner that has quickly gained momentum and publicity within our collectorship since joining our platform a year ago.

Dunmade Ayegbayo, Founder of Constance & Sons Gallery © Constance & Sons Gallery

About the Gallery

Constance and Sons gallery was founded in 2020 as a platform for both emerging and established artists from Nigeria. Its founder, Dunmade Ayegbayo was born and raised in Osun state, Western Nigeria (West Africa) amidst a family of artists, which fueled his passion for contemporary African art and serves as a major motivation for starting a gallery.

Wande Oseni, Home alone 1, 2021 © Artsper

Constance & Sons gallery operates online, thereby reaching international collectors in the North American and European markets. Its mission is to identify, cultivate and promote African artists within the continent and in diaspora at a global scale. Ayegbayo’s team follows a simple criteria for choosing an artist based on their skill, style, commitment and consistency to high quality artworks. Constance & Sons gallery identified an opening in the art market at a time when the world shifted towards virtual operations. Thus began its mission to share artworks of relatively unknown artists in his state and beyond through e-commerce sites, thereby redefining the African art market via Nigeria.

Eyitayo Alagbe, Believe 1, 2022 © Artsper

The Nigerian Art Market

The Nigerian art market is a vibrant industry with a rich cultural heritage. Nigerian art is diverse, with influences from over 300 ethnic groups, across different media including Paintings, sculptures, photography and mixed media to name a few. In addition, Nigerian artists are fueled by their daily experiences and socio-political environment, visualized through contemporary art movements and other techniques akin to traditional African art such as figurative paintings, clay and metal sculpting etc, resulting in a fusion of various unique elements.

Nigerian artists, like Bruce Onobrakpeya, Njideka Akunyili-Crosby, Victor Ehikhamenor and many others have achieved global recognition and played a significant role in the international art scene. Art from the region has been featured in institutions, galleries, museums and major cities around the world.

Tosin Oyeniyi, Innermost strength, 2022 © Artsper

- Dunmade Ayegbayo

Successfully selling online

Ayegbayo and his team created a strategy to focus on collectors in North America and Europe. Since joining Artsper in 2022, they have increased their reach in North America as well as France, Spain and other European countries. By showcasing a wide range of artistic mediums such as paintings, sculptures, photography, and mixed media, the gallery creates an immersive experience that captivates diverse audiences and fosters a deeper understanding of African art.

The gallery's exhibitions are thoughtfully curated, aiming to provide a holistic representation of African art and culture. They showcase the diversity and vibrancy of Africa's artistic landscape, featuring traditional, contemporary, and experimental works that push the boundaries of artistic conventions. Each exhibit is carefully designed to provoke dialogue, challenge perceptions, and invite viewers to engage with the narratives beyond the artworks.

Abisola Kuburat Gbadamosi (AKG), EMI (Spirit): Divinity, 2022 © Artsper

Constance and Sons gallery actively seeks collaborations and partnerships with museums, galleries, and cultural institutions worldwide. Through these alliances, the gallery aims to amplify the reach and impact of African art, facilitating cross-cultural exchanges and promoting a deeper appreciation for the continent's artistic heritage. With integrity and authenticity in their business dealings, this gallery has managed to build a loyal collectorship across different continents. Catch up on our recent webinar with Dunmade Ayegbayo of Constance and Sons gallery here.

African Artists in demand

The art world in recent years has peaked interest in African artists in both emerging and established artist categories. Admittedly, there is more focus on established and famous artists like Thandiwe Muriu and Hassan Hajjaj who sell artworks worth an average of $10,000 and $15,000 respectively on the Artsper marketplace. Furthermore new and emerging artists are gaining visibility, like Ebuka Michael whose photographs have grown in demand over time on Artsper.

Thandiwe Muriu, Camo 34, 2022 © Artsper

Moreover, artists like Njideka Akunyili-Crosby have made waves through international exhibitions in major cities such as New York, London, Los Angeles and selling artworks like her piece titled The beautiful ones at a Christie’s 2022 auction for $4.7 million. More recently, there has been further proof that African art is here to stay, proven by the recent sale of art by the Ethiopian born artist Julie Mehretu titled Walkers with The Dawn and Morning, for $10.7 million at Sotheby’s The Now Evening New York auction in November.

Julie Mehretu, Walkers with The Dawn and Morning, 2008 © Sotheby’s

Africa to the world

For some artists in underserved regions, galleries like Constance & Sons are a major source of income as much as the increased visibility and career growth gained. African artists are largely underrepresented in the global art scene, making it even more important to showcase emerging artists from the region. At Artsper, we constantly find ways to streamline the art market by involving all stakeholders. We cherish artistic excellence and originality in our effort to make art accessible and are continuously pleased with the artworks coming out of Africa. Without a doubt this region has so much more to offer the art world, exemplified by the artists and efforts of galleries like Constance & Sons.