Following the remarkable presentation of her debut solo exhibition, Metamorphic Weave: The Alchemy of Fiber and Pigment, in December 2025, Nigerian textile and mixed-media artist Edna Abugewa Wyse-Ekenimoh is set to return to the National Museum, Onikan, Lagos, with the second edition of her artistic exploration, Metamorphic Weave II: Threads of Resilience.
Words Ireho Aito | Don’t Keep Your Art in the Finger!
Metamorphic Weave II: Threads of Resilience, is scheduled to open on Saturday, December 12, 2026, at the prestigious National Museum Onikan in Lagos, this exhibition marks another significant chapter in the artist’s evolving engagement with textiles, materials, identity and social narratives. While the first edition explored the possibilities of transforming fibre, pigment and unconventional materials into compelling artistic expressions, this new presentation takes the conversation further, placing the experiences of women and the girl child at its centre.
For Ekenimoh, this is a continuation rather than a departure from the journey begun with her first exhibition. The materials that featured in the earlier presentation return with new meanings, forms and interpretations. Through experimentation and creative transformation, she examines how familiar materials can become powerful instruments for telling stories that are often overlooked.
This time, the language of her works draws attention to the dignity of women’s labour, their everyday struggles, sacrifices and extraordinary capacity to endure. Beyond the familiar image of a woman as a caregiver and homemaker, Ekenimoh invites viewers to consider the many responsibilities women carry, the value they contribute to society and the strength required to navigate their different realities.
“I am kind of bringing out the dignity of labour in women,” the artist explains, offering an insight into the thinking behind this new body of work.
The exhibition’s subtitle, Threads of Resilience, captures this intention. Like the threads that come together to create a tapestry, the experiences of women are woven from different strands of responsibility, pain, courage, sacrifice and hope. Some stories are visible, while others remain hidden beneath the surface of everyday life. Through her artistic practice, Ekenimoh seeks to give these experiences a visual presence.
An interesting dimension of this presentation is her exploration of womanhood through the symbolism of fruits. In one of the works, individual fruits represent the values associated with womanhood and what a woman bears, produces and contributes beyond the boundaries of her immediate household. It is an invitation to look beyond conventional expectations and recognise the wider significance of women’s roles in families, communities and society.
The girl child also finds a place within this conversation, drawing attention to the experiences, expectations and challenges that shape the lives of women from an early age.
Ekenimoh’s return to the National Museum is particularly significant considering the reception that greeted her debut exhibition. Her first outing introduced audiences to an artist who had spent over two decades teaching art before stepping forward to give greater attention to her own creative practice. The exhibition brought together textile, painting, mixed media, personal history and cultural memory in a presentation that attracted collectors, art enthusiasts and international visitors.
With Metamorphic Weave II, she builds on that foundation, demonstrating how an established artistic language can continue to evolve while taking on more urgent social conversations.
At its heart, Threads of Resilience is an invitation to appreciate the woman beyond the familiar roles society assigns her. It is about recognising her labour, acknowledging her struggles and celebrating the strength that often goes unnoticed.
The exhibition opens on Saturday, December 12, 2026, from 3pm to 7pm at the National Museum, Onikan, Lagos. It will continue from December 13 to 19, 2026, between 10am and 5pm daily.
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