Lagos Studio Archives is an artist-led archival project by Karl Ohiri (UK/NG) and Riikka Kassinen (FIN/UK), operating at the intersection of contemporary art, artistic research, and archival activism. The archive comprises thousands of photographic negatives documenting studio portraiture and vernacular photography in Lagos, Nigeria, from the 1970s to the early 2000s.
Ohiri initiated the project in 2015 after witnessing the widespread loss of photographic negatives in Nigeria. The transition from analogue to digital photography led to archives being destroyed, discarded, or left to deteriorate in humid conditions. In a race against time, the project embarked on a dedicated acquisition period from 2016 to 2021. Working between London and Lagos, the project collaborated with Lagos-based photographers in an attempt to safeguard an important part of Nigeria’s photographic and cultural heritage.
Having collaborated artistically for many years, including on the development of Lagos Studio Archives, Ohiri and Kassinen formally established the working group in 2023, following the archive’s relocation from London to Helsinki. Together, they share a mission to preserve, activate, and recontextualise the archive through contemporary artistic and archival practices.
Through exhibitions, publications, and public talks, Lagos Studio Archives activates photographic archives that have long remained dormant, bringing overlooked histories and neglected narratives into view while addressing gaps in cultural representation and the historical record. The project fosters critical dialogue around West African photography, identity, memory, and the diaspora, while encouraging international collaboration and cultural exchange.
The project has been exhibited internationally at venues including the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York (2023); South London Gallery, London (2023); Autograph, London (2024–2025); and the Living Art Museum, Reykjavík (2025). Upcoming presentations include the Lagos Biennial (2026) and Photographic Gallery Hippolyte, Helsinki (2027).
The project has been featured in publications and media including The New York Times, British Journal of Photography, BBC Africa, The Guardian, and WePresent.
Our Supporters
Thanks to all our past and present supporters, whose generosity and belief in our work make this journey possible. Your support has been invaluable, and we are deeply grateful to everyone who has contributed along the way.
Arts Council England, Arts Promotion Centre Finland (Taike), Autograph ABP, Finnish Cultural Foundation, Foto Ojeikere, Frame Contemporary Art Finland, G.A.S Foundation, Kone Foundation, Yinka Shonibare Foundation.
Contact
lagosstudioarchives@gmail.com
@lagosstudioarchives
Studio
The Cable Factory, Tallberginkatu 1 00180 Helsinki, Finland