A Group Critique Session Hosted by Gaia Ozwyn
On April 3rd, 2025, G.A.S. Lagos hosted Young Artist's Salon, a group critique session facilitated by Gaia Ozwyn. Drawing from her own experience in art school, Gaia understands how pivotal critique sessions can be in shaping an artist’s practice. Acknowledging that many emerging artists in Lagos lack access to structured, supportive environments for feedback, she was inspired to create a space that encourages dialogue, reflection, and collective learning. Ahead of the session, Gaia put up a call for Lagos-based visual fine artists interested in presenting their work for critique. From the submissions, four artists were selected: Mariam Olubunmi Aliyu, Afolabi Atiye, Fikayo Adebajo, and Charles Ola. Each artist was invited to present their work live and receive feedback from fellow artists and industry professionals.
Young Artist's Salon critique session, held on 3rd April 2025.
The session opened with a welcome address from Gaia, during which she outlined the ethos and house rules of the gathering. She emphasized that the goal was not to make value judgments about the artworks but to foster thoughtful and respectful conversations rooted in observation and analysis. To illustrate this, she encouraged participants to go beyond simple reactions. For example, rather than saying, “I don’t like that there is so much red in this painting,” participants were prompted to consider: “Why does the red feel overwhelming? Could it be affecting the mood or composition? Why might the artist have made this choice?”
Welcome address by Gaia Ozwyn at the Young Artist's Salon, held on 3rd April 2025.
Following Gaia’s introduction, the four selected artists were each invited to present their work in turn. Each presentation began with a brief introduction from the artist about their practice and areas of interest. They then introduced the selected work, providing context about the medium, whether it was a finished or work-in-progress piece, and highlighting any specific challenges or questions they wished to explore.
Invited artist Mariam Olubunmi Aliyu presenting at the Young Artist's Salon, held on 3rd April 2025.
Invited artist Afolabi Atiye presenting at the Young Artist's Salon, held on 3rd April 2025.
Invited artist Fikayo Adebajo presenting at the Young Artist's Salon, held on 3rd April 2025.
Invited artist Charles Ola presenting at the Young Artist's Salon, held on 3rd April 2025.
Attendees were invited to engage with the works up close and exchange interpretations with the artists and other members of the audience. The session concluded with a collective Q&A and final reflections, offering all participants the opportunity to share insights and feedback on the experience as a whole.
Participant immersed in Charles Ola's collage artworks at the Young Artist's Salon, held on 3rd April 2025.
Gaia Ozwyn leads a group discussion during the Young Artist's Salon, held on 3rd April 2025.
Attendees engaged in a group discussion at the Young Artist's Salon, held on 3rd April 2025.
Attendees at the Young Artist's Salon, held on 3rd April 2025.
EVENT DETAILS
Date: April 3rd, 2025
Time: 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Location: 9b, Hakeem Dickson Drive, off TF Kuboye Road, Oniru, Lagos
About the Facilitator
Gaia Ozwyn
Gaia Ozwyn is a London-based contemporary artist whose unique practice weaves together the tactile and visual contrast between concrete sculpture and painterly technique, to explore themes of loneliness and ‘othering’. Born in 1991 to a Caribbean-British family, Ozwyn's multifaceted identity deeply informs her work, prompting a nuanced exploration of belonging and 'otherness.' Initially pursuing a career in the sciences, Ozwyn received training as a biomedical scientist and later studied Medicine, dedicating several years to serving as a Doctor in the NHS. Ozwyn pivoted to a full-time painting practice and has since completed a painting MA at the Royal College of Art, supported by the Sir Frank Bowling Scholarship. Ozwyn delves into the realm of the imagined and sublime, creating spaces where solitude and belonging coexist, challenging binary perceptions. Her work stands as a dialogue between solidity and transience, engaging the observer in a tactile and contemplative experience.
Gaia's residency is generously supported by the Royal College of Art Association of Black Students, Alumni & Friends (RCA BLK).
