Introduction
Dr Hassan Aliyu (DProf), FRSA is a British-born artist acclaimed for his collaged paintings, which examine Africa’s historical and present-day challenges. A member of the Guild of Professional Fine Artists of Nigeria (MGFA) and the current president of the Nigeria Art Society UK (NASUK), Aliyu’s work delves into themes of colonial impact, global capitalism, and systemic inequities affecting the Global South.
Aliyu developed a practice that critiqued IMF-imposed austerity measures and limited access to art supplies during Nigeria’s Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) in the 1980s, while studying at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. Drawing on the vivid packaging of imported consumer goods, he pioneered a technique that infused his artwork with commentary on economic pressures that shaped Nigeria’s cultural landscape.
Through his art and academic research, Dr Aliyu addresses cultural imperialism, consumerism, and Third World debt, illuminating their roles in perpetuating global dominance. His work invites meaningful discourse on Africa’s developmental journey and advocates for social justice.
“The sources of Hassan’s work both historical and contemporary, are often metaphors for wider themes of race and change. The sheer dynamism of Hassan’s work is particularly clear. He binds energy and movement in paint producing vibrant images that fascinate and provoke. With references in technique to the dynamic images of the Italian Futurists, Hassan elucidates themes and issues with an absorbing lyricism and energy.” – Mark Bills, Curator, Russell Coates Museum and Art Gallery, Dorset, UK
Aliyu’s recent exhibitions include Legacies of Biafra, a touring exhibition currently on view at Iwalewahaus, Bayreuth, Germany (8 May – 20 December 2025); The Carnivalesque: Body, Mind & Spirit at Noho Showrooms, London (August 2025); and The Blue Between Us, a group exhibition at Rele, London (2025). His work was also featured in Waves of Change: Artistic Journeys from Nigeria to Britain, a 1-54 London Art Fair Special Project (2024); More Than Meets the Eye, Rele, London (2024); Convergence, the Guild of Professional Fine Artists of Nigeria Annual Exhibition (December 2024); and Shared Horizons, part of the 15th Havana Biennial (November 2024 – March 2025). In the Spring of 2026, Aliyu will exhibit a solo exhibition at Portugal Place gallery, Cambridge
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