An Analysis of Women’s Artistic Expressions in Contemporary Nigerian Textile Art

Women have historically been the primary practitioners of many Nigerian textile art forms, and examining how contemporary female textile artists engage with and transform this tradition illuminates both the gendered dimensions of Nigerian creative arts and the evolution of textile art as a medium of self-expression. This study analysed the thematic and formal expressions of women artists working in contemporary Nigerian textile art, with fieldwork in Lagos and Enugu representing the South West and South East zones. A qualitative descriptive design was employed, with in-depth interviews conducted with eighteen female textile artists and studio visits to their workspaces. Thematic analysis of interview narratives and visual analysis of 50 artworks examined how gender, identity, and social commentary shape artistic choices. Results revealed that contemporary female textile artists articulate three dominant thematic concerns: gender-based violence and bodily autonomy, indigenous cultural heritage preservation, and diasporic identity negotiation. Mixed-media techniques incorporating photography, collage, and wax print were used by 61.1 percent of respondents, suggesting hybrid practice beyond traditional weaving and embroidery. Access to exhibition spaces and art market recognition were identified as persistent inequities, with 72.2 percent reporting fewer exhibition opportunities than male counterparts at comparable career stages. The study concludes that Nigerian women textile artists are producing conceptually sophisticated work that merits greater institutional recognition. Recommendations include gender equity provisions in public art commissioning and dedicated women's textile art prizes.

Keywords: women artists, textile art, gender in art, Nigerian creative arts, female artistic expression