Mariam Hava Aslam, M:ARCH Architecture alumnus from Central Saint Martins is the first of two practicioners to be selected for the University of the Arts London (UAL) Art for the Environment residency at Guest Artists Space. The programme, set up by Professor Lucy Orta, provides UAL graduates with the exceptional opportunity to apply for short residencies at internationally renowned host institutions to explore biodiversity, environmental sustainability, social economy and human rights. Mariam will be located at G.A.S. Lagos for the majority of her time with us but will also spend a week at the G.A.S. Farm House joining the first cohort of residents there.

Emma Prempeh's residency at G.A.S. Lagos starts this week. It is supported by Tiwani Contemporary through our Fellowship Platinum Partner donor package. She is Tiwani's inaugural Artist in Residence at G.A.S. and the gallery will present her most recent works at their Lagos venue on Victoria Island between the 8th of September and the 28th of October 2022.

Guest Artists Space Foundation began working collaboratively with Tiwani Contemporary in early 2022 following the opening of their new gallery space on Victoria Island, Lagos. The resulting opportunities are funded through our Fellowship Platinum Partner donor package, a giving level used to directly support three residency fellowship awards in Nigeria over a three-year period with a focus on African and African Diaspora recipients. In this instance, it allows artists who are either represented by or exhibiting with Tiwani to complete a one-month residency at G.A.S.

Last month we reached another exciting milestone with the completion of our first three residencies. The occasion was celebrated with a Resident's Presentation during which G.A.S. Fellowship recipients Femi Johnson and Uzor Ugoala, and TURN2 recipient Lynhan Balatbat-Helbock shared highlights from their experience with guests from Lagos and the wider Nigerian creative and cultural community.

Multidisciplinary Nigerian artist Ofem Ubi joins us this August after receiving the inaugural G.A.S. Fellowship. We asked him to tell us more about his practice and how he hopes the opportunity might shape future creative projects.