KEY POINTS

• Exhibit Mosho spotlights Ogbomoso’s artistic talent and cultural depth.
• Twenty-four artists present works reflecting love, bravery and conquest.
• Organisers plan to make exhibition a recurring cultural event.

Art lovers, creatives and culture enthusiasts gathered at The Assembly in Ogbomoso on February 14 for Exhibit Mosho, a Valentine’s Day pop-up exhibition designed to celebrate local artistic expression and reshape the city’s cultural narrative.

Held on Valentine’s Day, the exhibition featured a rich blend of paintings, sculptures, photography, and other visual expressions, drawing creatives and residents into a shared space of storytelling, reflection, and cultural pride, as the organisers sought to spotlight Ogbomoso’s artistic depth and strengthen community appreciation for the arts.

Celebrating Ogbomoso’s artistic expression

Exhibition Director Chizitere Duru described the event as a deliberate effort to showcase Ogbomoso’s artistic talent while creating a platform for conversation and cultural appreciation. “This event was put together to celebrate art and artists and the creative people and voices in Ogbomoso,” she said. “It was meant to bring them together and show that their work is valuable and desired in Ogbomoso.” According to Duru, the exhibition was inspired by the city’s history, its resilient people, and the untapped potential of its creative community.

Speaking on the organisation of the event, CEO and Co-founder of Ennovate Lab, Jesudamilare Adesegun-David, noted that the exhibition was designed to create connections among artists, enthusiasts, and the wider community. “We decided to put together this exhibition as a means of gathering a certain kind of people in Ogbomoso,” he said. “We needed to actually create a space where art lovers, art enthusiasts, and artists could come together… and then to actually create a ripple effect on the wider community.”

Reclaiming Ogbomoso’s creative narrative

Duru elaborated on the vision behind the exhibition, highlighting the theme of Love, Bravery, and Conquest as central to the message. “The thoughts behind it stem from a dream to see the creative and artistic spirits in Ogbomoso find expression and show value,” she explained. “We wanted to invite people outside of Ogbomoso to see the wealth of creativity nestled in our city and to challenge perceptions that nothing remarkable comes out of here.” She emphasized that the exhibition was also about bridging communities and fostering dialogue, reflection, and renewed local pride.

Curator Ayooluniyi Zoe Ojeniyi explained that the curation was not only for Valentine’s Day but also to tell the story of Ogbomoso and its resilient identity. “The curation was not basically to create stories of love only, but to propagate the story of love, bravery, and conquest ingrained in the fabric of Ogbomoso,” she said. Ayooluniyi revealed that 24 artists from Ondo, Oyo, Ibadan, Edo, and Abuja were featured to ensure a diverse and engaging exhibition. She added that the artworks can help reposition Ogbomoso through creativity and storytelling.

A vision for cultural permanence

Adesegun-David explained that February 14 became a strategic choice after earlier plans for January were adjusted to allow for broader participation. “So February 14 looked like that day when people want to go on outings,” he said.

The exhibition theme, Love, Bravery and Conquest, was repeatedly highlighted as central to the event’s message, reflecting Ogbomoso’s identity and the personal journeys of those building creative communities in the city.

For attendees, the experience went beyond visuals. One participant, Blessing Ajewole, described the exhibition as emotionally uplifting after losing a friend earlier in the week. “I didn’t want to come here today, but somebody pushed me. And I’m glad that I came,” she said.

Organisers expressed optimism that the exhibition could evolve into a recurring cultural platform. “It is something that is here to stay,” Duru said, noting her broader vision for festivals celebrating art and culture in the city.

Ayooluniyi Ojeniyi also said the team, which consisted of herself, Emmanuel Aderiye, Abimbola Adegoke, and Chizitere Duru, hopes to build on the reception of the first edition. “Because of how this has been embraced, we would like to have this exhibition regularly, build on this legacy, and continue championing Ogbomoso’s creative community,” she said.