Meet Aliyu Aminu Ahmed
Nigerian abstract artist and art advocate whose work explores texture, materiality, and emotional memory through acrylic on canvas, mixed media and natural materials. His practice intersects artistic expression, cultural preservation, environmental awareness and community empowerment, with a strong focus on motivating underrepresented artists, particularly women and youth, in Northern Nigeria. He uses art as a tool for dialogue, resilience, and social reflection in contexts where cultural infrastructure and visibility remain limited.tinct and emotion into vibrant, textured stories from Abuja.
150+
15
Featured Artist
Nigerian
Abuja Studio
Located at 5th Avenue, Gwarimpa, Abuja
Address
Gwarimpa Abuja
Hours
Mon-Fri 9-5
My Roots and Passion
Aliyu Aminu Ahmed is an acclaimed abstract expressionist painter, art collector, and advocate for contemporary Northern Nigerian art. Based in Abuja, he is known for his innovative exploration of color, texture, and emotion, drawing influence from Abstract Expressionism, Lyrical Abstraction, and Minimalist Art. He is the Founder of Garga Art Galleries Limited, established in Zaria in 2024, where he showcases his own works and provides a platform for nurturing emerging artists—particularly young female creatives, youth under 40, and elderly women. His artworks have been exhibited at notable venues such as the Cyprian Ekwensi Center for Arts and Culture and Garga Art Galleries, earning him recognition as a leading figure in Nigeria’s contemporary art landscape.
Work and Education
Art Jollof Spirit
MSc, Project Management – University of Salford, UK; MSc in International Affairs and Diplomacy , Ahmadu Bello University Zaria and additional postgraduate trainings
Creative Journey, Online Platforms and Media Engagement
ONLINE PLATFORMS
Works available online on ArtPal, Saatchi Art and other platforms.
INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/aliyu.art/
GALLEA Canada https://www.gallea.ca/en/artists/aliyu
ARTPAL https://www.artpal.com/aliyuaminuahmed
SAATCHIART https://www.saatchiart.com/en-ng/u/2079675
ARTMAJEUR https://www.artmajeur.com/aliyu-aminu-ahmed
ASKART https://www.askart.com/Artist_Art_For_Sale_Inquiry.aspx?adno=308880&artist=11432351
MEDIA APPEARANCE
Trust Radio https://trustradio.com.ng/en/why-buying-art-from-a-gallery-still-matters
VANGUARD https://www.vanguardngr.com/2025/04/aliyu-ahmed-speak-on-preserving-nigerian-art-beyond-commercial-transactions/
Daily Trust https://dailytrust.com/why-buying-art-from-a-gallery-still-matters/
Guadian https://guardian.ng/news/why-nigerian-art-is-next-big-investment-aliyu-aminu-ahmed/
TRIBUNE https://tribuneonlineng.com/aliyu-ahmed-urges-standardised-art-valuation-to-strengthen-nigerias-creative-economy/
Guardian https://guardian.ng/news/garga-ceo-says-art-value-is-negotiated-not-neutral/
Guadian NG https://guardian.ng/tag/aliyu-aminu-ahmed/
Guadian https://guardian.ng/news/aliyu-aminu-ahmed-calls-for-tax-incentives-on-donated-artworks-to-boost-creative-economy/
ART RESOURCES
SELAR https://selar.com/997216?currency=XAF
WATERSTONES https://www.waterstones.com/author/aliyu-aminu-ahmed/6615695
EBAY https://www.ebay.com/itm/365911166546
EBAY UK https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/365876232118
AMAZON https://www.amazon.co.za/Enhancing-Value-through-Provenance-Documentation/dp/B0DV4LW87V
Art Jollof is an abstract expressionist painting style that translates lived experience into vibrant colors, textures, expressive patterns and different strokes. Rejecting restraint and minimalism, the work embraces layered abstraction that appears chaotic yet resolves into balance and harmony. Influenced by cultural and religious traditions that discourage figurative imagery, the art style relies on color, texture, and material to convey meaning. Within contemporary abstraction, Art Jollof positions painting as an open, evolving process shaped by culture, belief, and everyday life.
Aliyu's art feels alive, vibrant with stories that resonate deeply within.
Lina M.
His use of color brings hope and strength—truly inspiring and moving work.
David K.
