The Recycling Matters II residency convened four of Nigeria’s most promising contemporary artists—Konboye Ebipade Eugene, Seye Morakinyo, Aliya Diseotu Victor, and Ibrahim Afegbua—for an intensive period of experimentation and material exploration. Over the course of the programme, rubber, scrap metal, binding wires, fabric remnants, and other overlooked materials were transformed into striking contemporary artworks, each reflecting a deeply personal yet socially resonant narrative.
The resulting exhibition, hosted at Alexis Galleries in Victoria Island, Lagos, opened with a private viewing on February 7, 2026. Artists, collectors, cultural enthusiasts, members of the media, and key stakeholders gathered for an immersive experience that celebrated innovation, sustainability, and the evolving language of African art. At its core, the exhibition invited audiences to reconsider waste—not as an endpoint, but as a beginning.
For The Macallan, the collaboration represents a natural alignment of values. Much like its whiskies, which are shaped by time, patience, and an uncompromising attention to detail, the artists of Recycling Matters II engage in a deliberate process of refining raw, forgotten materials into objects of lasting value. The partnership underscores the brand’s commitment to craftsmanship, purpose, and responsible creativity beyond the world of whisky.
Commenting on the initiative, Hammed Adebiyi, Senior Brand Manager, West and Central Africa (WACA), Edrington Portfolio, described the collaboration as an investment in both artistry and sustainability. He noted that the artists’ ability to transform the “forgotten” into the “extraordinary” closely mirrors The Macallan’s own pursuit of excellence, where mastery is understood as an ongoing journey shaped by patience and intention.
Patty Chidiac-Mastrogiannis, Founder of Alexis Galleries, highlighted the broader impact of the partnership, describing Recycling Matters II as both an artistic platform and a social intervention. With The Macallan’s support, she explained, the residency creates a safe and enabling space for artists to push boundaries while prompting audiences to reflect on consumption, waste, and environmental responsibility—conversations that resonate far beyond the gallery walls.
Participating artists have described the residency as a vital environment for growth, experimentation, and public engagement. Sculptor Ibrahim Afegbua, known for his use of binding wires and cut-off pipes, emphasised how the programme allowed him to develop new techniques while revealing the rhythm and storytelling embedded in industrial materials. For him, the residency also offered audiences a rare insight into the processes behind his work.
Mixed-media artist Seye Morakinyo approached the residency as an opportunity to expand his practice through discarded fabrics and paper. His painstaking method of cutting, layering, and moulding found materials becomes an intentional act of upcycling—uncovering texture, memory, and meaning in items often dismissed as refuse.
Konboye Ebipade Eugene, whose work transforms discarded footwear into complex stitched compositions, brought an internationally recognised practice rooted in human resilience and lived experience. His art, previously featured by global outlets such as Reuters and the BBC, demonstrates how waste materials can carry profound social and emotional significance when reframed through contemporary art.
For sculptor Aliya Diseotu Victor, the residency provided a platform to explore sheet metal as a medium for examining cultural heritage, anatomy, and interior space. Drawing inspiration from Ijaw traditions and human and animal forms, his work underscores both the aesthetic potential and environmental promise of reclaimed metal.
The Recycling Matters II exhibition remains open to the public until February 21, 2026, from 10am to 6pm at Alexis Galleries, Victoria Island, Lagos. Visitors are invited to experience the final works and trace the artists’ journeys—from discarded materials found on the street to thought-provoking artworks on the gallery wall.
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| L-R: Senior Brand Manager, West and Central Africa (WACA), Edrington, Hammed Adebiyi; CEO of Alexis Galleries, Patty Chidiac-Mastrogiannis; Exhibiting Artists, Aliya Diseotu Victor, Ibrahim Afegbua, Konboye Ebipade Eugene and Co-founder Alexis Galleries, Minas Mastrogiannis at the Recycling Matters II Exhibition at the Alexis Galleries in partnership with The Macallan on Saturday, 7th February, 2026 in Lagos, Nigeria. |
