Analysis of Colour and Symbolism in Contemporary Nigerian Painting from the National Gallery of Art Collection

The National Gallery of Art in Abuja houses one of the most significant collections of Nigerian visual art, and systematic analysis of colour usage and symbolic systems across its contemporary painting holdings provides accessible research material for undergraduate art historical and critical inquiry. This study analysed the use of colour and symbolic content in a sample of contemporary Nigerian paintings drawn from the National Gallery of Art's permanent collection, representing artists from the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria. A descriptive content analysis methodology was employed, with 60 paintings selected using stratified purposive sampling to represent diverse regional and generational perspectives. Analysis applied colour palette mapping and symbolic content coding frameworks derived from African visual cultural scholarship and art historical methodological literature. Results showed that earth tones, red, and black were the most prevalent colour combinations across the sample, with green and blue more prominent in landscapes and nature-themed works. Symbolic content analysis identified recurring motifs including masked figures, domestic spaces, market scenes, and body ornamentation, each carrying distinct cultural referencing across regional traditions. Regional variation in symbolic vocabulary was significant, with South East artists more frequently referencing Igbo masquerade iconography and North Central artists more frequently using geometric abstractions linked to Nupe and Idoma visual traditions. The study concludes that the Gallery's collection reflects both the diversity and the shared aesthetic concerns of contemporary Nigerian painting and recommends more systematic accessibility of the collection for student art historical research nationally.