Recently, art enthusiasts and corporate heavyweights converged on the elegant private lounge, Milìkí, in Lagos to celebrate the presentation of the book, Creating Art: Authenticity and Ownership in the Visual Arts, co-authored by Professor of Corporate Governance and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Fabian Ajogwu, and the architect and Director at the Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art, Pan-Atlantic University, Dr. Jess Castellote. The book, the second installment in the series, builds on the insights shared in the authors’ previous work, Collecting Art: A Handbook.
It delves deeper into the legal and contractual challenges faced by visual artists, art collectors, and intermediaries in the art world. Attendees experienced firsthand the significance of the book’s themes, including copyright, authenticity, and ownership, which are subjects of major discourse in the visual arts. They had the opportunity to interact with the authors and engage in thought-provoking discussions on the complexities of the art world.
Commenting on the difference between the two books in the series, Ajogwu explained, “Collecting Art focuses on themes such as what makes art; why there is interest in art; the connections between art and heritage; the concept of beauty in art; sources of inspiration for collectors; and how to transfer ownership of art from one generation to another.” He continued: “In Creating Art, we focus on the rights of visual artists by asking critical questions like: can we buy .