Introduction

Lagos is a city alive with creativity. From bold murals to soulful music, it’s a place where ideas come to life. But beyond the noise and the hustle lies a growing network of creative spaces that offer artists, thinkers, and culture lovers room to breathe, build, and belong. These places are built for collaboration, conversation, and bold self-expression, and they reflect the rhythm of Lagos itself: vibrant, unpredictable, and always evolving.

Whether you're an emerging artist, a curious visitor, or just someone seeking inspiration, these spaces open the door to Lagos’ thriving creative scene. Here’s a look at some of the most exciting places shaping the culture of the city today.

Friends of 16

Friends of 16 is more than just an art space; it’s a creative incubator and cultural hub hosted by 16/16, a Lagos-based design-focused space. Established as a response to the lack of independent, artist-led spaces in Lagos, Friends of 16 offers a platform where boundary-pushing ideas can grow, especially those that challenge dominant narratives around art, politics, and identity.

It serves as a launchpad for early-career artists, writers, performers, and thinkers, providing not just a venue but also mentorship, residencies, workshops, and community programs. Events like The Counter Narrative film screening series have explored African identities through independent cinema, while Space(s) Between Us, a collaborative installation and performance, invited audiences to engage with themes of migration, memory, and belonging.

In a city that can sometimes feel overwhelming or commercially driven, this space offers a refreshing pocket of reflection and experimentation, an underground salon for Lagos' artistically curious.

A Third Space

Situated in Ikoyi, this space was established as a public-facing cultural venue that encourages both literary and artistic exploration. The name itself plays on the sociological concept of a “third space”—a place outside of home and work where community and creativity can flourish.

At its core, A Third Space is an independent, multidisciplinary art space. It regularly hosts book readings, writing workshops, exhibitions, open mics, and panel conversations that bring together writers, thinkers, translators, artists, and curious audiences. It leans heavily into celebrating African languages and storytelling while remaining open to global collaborations.

My Friend’s House

My Friend’s House is a creative and social space in Lagos founded by Demilade Akingbe, designed as an intimate “third place” for adults seeking meaningful connection and creative expression by way of shared experiences like cooking, music, laughter, and conversation.

My Friend’s House is about real connection. From nostalgic karaoke nights and themed dinners to spontaneous hangouts and collaborative cooking sessions, every event is designed to be low-pressure and high-energy. But beyond just the events, My Friend’s House fills a gap in Lagos’s creative and social ecosystem by offering an alternative to the typical nightlife or networking circuit, and encouraging a slower, more intentional way of gathering.

Ile Mimu

Ìlé Mímú is not your typical bar; it’s a Yoruba-inspired, creative rooftop space that fuses culture, storytelling, and experimentation. The name itself means “House of Drink” in Yoruba, but the experience goes far beyond just cocktails. Designed to feel like a cultural shrine meets social salon, the space is carefully curated with artifacts and visual elements that echo traditional aesthetics.

On any given weekend, you might walk into an intimate TGIF event with Yoruba cocktails made from ògógóró, a storytelling circle, or a spontaneous creative jam session. Everything is designed to encourage vulnerability, serendipity, and genuine connection; whether that means making a new friend, dancing barefoot under the stars, or co-creating a new drink with the bartenders.

Guests Artists Space Foundation

Guest Artists Space (G.A.S.) Foundation is a creative residency and arts organisation in Lagos founded by British-Nigerian artist Yinka Shonibare in 2019. The Lagos space is located in Oniru and was designed by Elsie Owusu, with Nigerian architect Nihinlola Shonibare. Beyond Lagos, G.A.S. also runs a second site in Ijebu-Ode, on a 54-acre piece of land that functions as both a farm and a residency.

G.A.S. is about exchange of disciplines and cultures between people. Through residencies, public programmes, and collaborations, it creates a platform for conversation, growth, and new ideas, both for Nigerian artists and international visitors. In recent years, this spirit has come alive through a range of thoughtful and often cross-disciplinary programming. Take “Residency Open Studio,” where residents like photographer Nengi Nelson invite the community into their process, offering a rare window into work-in-progress and honest feedback sessions. Or “AfterImages,” a powerful film installation series that examined colonial legacies through experimental cinema from Cameroon and other parts of the Global South.

At heart, it’s a space that values curiosity and care, and offers something quite rare: time and room to explore.

Untitled Lagos

Untitled Lagos is a contemporary creative space in the heart of Ikoyi, Lagos. Founded by Nigerian photographer and visual artist Daniel Obasi, Untitled was born out of a desire to build a space that nurtures visual storytelling, collaboration, and artistic expression outside the rigid structure of traditional galleries.

What sets Untitled apart is its commitment to being fluid. It functions as a studio, gallery, residency space, and event venue, depending on the needs of the moment. The space has hosted intimate exhibitions, art salons, creative workshops, and film screenings, all designed to centre African narratives and encourage local talent.

The Treehouse

The Treehouse is a privately-run, experimental art and creative space designed to encourage creative experimentation, artistic research, and “radical and open questions.” The kind of creative hideout where people can share ideas and connect.

As an inviting platform for boundary-pushing artists, The Treehouse hosts a variety of programmes including residencies and workshops, pop‑up exhibitions, performance art, salons, screenings, open studio events, and salon-style gatherings where creatives share food, drinks, ideas, and sometimes a new exhibition each week. Its ethos is clear: to allow artists the freedom to stretch mediums and push the limits of convention in ways that traditional galleries often don’t.

Over time, it’s become an important spot in the Lagos art scene, attracting artists and creatives who are looking for a welcoming place to experiment and gather outside the usual gallery spaces.

Nimbus Art Centre

Nimbus Art Centre is a vibrant cultural space in Lagos, founded by art curator Chike Nwagbogu. Housed above the iconic Bogobiri House, it blends a contemporary art gallery with live music, exhibitions, and a cozy café-bar vibe.

More than a gallery, it’s a creative hub where artists, collectors, and culture lovers connect, offering everything from advisory services to open mic nights, all in a space that celebrates Nigerian art and soul.

Conclusion

What makes these spaces stand out isn’t just the art on the walls or the music; it’s the sense of purpose behind them. Each one, in its own way, is creating room for people to explore, experiment, and be seen.

Together, they’re helping to shape a Lagos where creativity isn’t on the sidelines, it’s front and centre. And as the city continues to grow, so do the stories, sounds, and ideas coming out of these corners of inspiration.