Tucked within the serene campus of Pan-Atlantic University, Lagos, the Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art (YSMA) rises with quiet grace—Nigeria’s first, privately-funded university museum and a beacon for the nation’s art lovers worldwide – showcasing a private collection transformed into a public legacy. Described as “the apex of a collector’s aspiration to preserve his art” and voted Museum Opening of the Year by Apollo Magazine in 2020, YSMA embodies how private passion, when shared, enriches public culture. YSMA’s collection symbolizes the spirit of purposeful collecting: art gathered not just for possession, but for education, service and impact on society. Designed by Nigerian-Spanish architect and Founding Director, Dr. Jess Castellote, the museum’s architecture reinforces this ethos: modest in material, remarkable in form, and deeply rooted in place.

Opened in October 2019, the YSMA houses a carefully curated selection of 1000+ works from the collection of its Co-founder and Grand Donor, Prince Yemisi Adedoyin Shyllon, Africa’s largest and most influential collector, and numerous donations by artists and other private collectors. YSMA offers a comprehensive visual chronicle of Nigerian art and history. The museum’s permanent collection spans century masterpieces that highlight the nation’s rich artistic heritage – from Nok Terracottas, Igbo-Ukwu, Ife and Benin bronzes, to modern works by Aina Onabolu, Akinola Lasekan, Uche Okeke, Ben Enwonwu, Bruce Onobrakpeya, and leading contemporary voices like Peju Alatise, Victor Ehikhamenor, and El Anatsui among many others. Beyond the aesthetic is a compelling curatorial drive: to explore and address critical societal issues that go beyond art, and to trace the social and historical evolution of Africa through the lens of its artists.

YSMA isn’t just a museum – it’s a hub that facilitates critical thinking, learning and discovery through art. As part of Pan-Atlantic University, it supports academic research, curriculum development and experiential learning across disciplines. It also prioritizes community service and engagement in its programming. Thousands of secondary school students and teachers visit annually, often for their first encounter with a museum—thanks to it’s inclusive educational initiatives and donor-supported outreach programmes. Driven by an audience-centered mission, the YSMA is more than a museum – it is an institution built for people.

Central to YSMA’s objectives is its deep relationship and continuous engagements with artists and the nation’s art ecosystem at large, fostered by a series of initiatives including exhibitions and capacity building workshops. The museum consistently invites artists (outside of its collection) to participate in its exhibitions, providing unique opportunities for discovery, reinterpretation, critique, and cross-generational dialogue through their works. In 2021, the museum organized the groundbreaking exhibition titled 'Invincible Hands' to recognize the impact and contribution of women to the history and evolution of the nation’s artistic canon, featuring the works of over 40 modern, emerging and established contemporary female artists across Nigeria. Over the years, the museum’s evolving exhibition programme boasts of titles such as 'Making Matter' (2019), 'Water Under the Bridge' (2022), and 'Arewa?' (2024), which offered critical reflections on materiality and technology in art, migration and memory, and the artistic history and culture of Northern Nigeria respectively, collectively featuring over 200 artists in the process. These features have led to numerous donations of works to the YSMA, strengthening the museum’s relationship with artists and collectors in the process while growing the museum’s collection as well. Recently, the museum organized a workshop for artists on Copyright Protection in collaboration with the Guild of Fine Artists (GFA) of Nigeria, solidifying its position as a catalyst for empowering Nigeria’s art community, addressing systemic challenges, and harnessing the power of creativity to drive socio-economic development.

YSMA Collection is part of the BMW Art Guide by Independent Collectors.

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