How To Make Money from Your Art/Design in Nigeria

Congratulations! We're glad you found the courage to pursue your passion in art/design in Nigeria. But If you are wondering what to do next or how to ensure you don't enter a long-term relationship with sapa as an artist/designer, you've come to the right place.

In this blog post, we will show you genius ways to make a generous income from your art/design in Nigeria (while you are still alive, of course). Who knows? Maybe you will become a millionaire like Picasso. So let's dive in.

#1 Sell Original Artworks and Art Prints

The first way you can make money from your art is creating your own original artwork for sale. You can start by selling that beautiful abstract painting on canvas that you made but you decided to hide it in your bedroom. However, if you have grown attached to your original artwork and don't want to sell, there's the option of selling prints of the original artwork like Anthony Azekwoh, Chigozie Obi and Crixtover Edwin. You can use custom printing services like Framegidi to get high-quality print versions of your artwork, frame them and deliver them to your customers anywhere they are.

#2 Build  a Solid Online Presence

As an artist/designer in Nigeria, social media, especially Tiktok, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube, are your best friends. They say empty calabashes make the loudest noise. But in the age of social media, those who are able to get heard the most, get the opportunities that are available. You have to put yourself out there. Share your art on these platforms, follow artists/designers online, contribute to conversations and engage with your audience.

If you have a decent social media following, chances are you will be able to sell some art/design directly to clients across the globe—which is great! Sharing art has helped many Nigerian artists/designers like Anthony Azekwoh and Renike to mention a few, land global opportunities. And if you play your cards right, it can help you, too.

#3 Leverage e-commerce platforms and NFTs

Another way to make money from your art/design is by selling art prints on e-commerce platforms like Lewa Market, Crafts Village, Marketplace, Shopify, and Etsy. The great thing about this is that you can sell the prints anywhere in the world. So, even though you are not a tech bro or tech sis, you can make some decent foreign exchange from your art in time for the next Detty December.

You can also consider selling your art and design as NFTs. NFTs stand for non-fungible tokens; they are basically unique digital assets and are taking the digital art/collectables arena by storm! You can sell your art/design on platforms like Opensea and Rarity in exchange for cryptocurrency, which you can exchange for money. Cool right? Damola Adepoju and Zina Saro-Wiwa would agree after hitting it big this year with their $200,000 NFT auction!

#4 Let Your Network Do the Work Work Work

People often say the size of your network determines your net worth. Now, we don't know how true that is, but what we do know is having a solid network makes making money from your art/design 100 times easier. Who you know may be the difference between landing your next big gig or not.

Networking allows you to collaborate with other artists, share ideas and introduce you to art/design opportunities. So reach out to artists and art gallery owners you vibe with online, and even if you are a home buddy who would rather stay curled up in bed, you’ve to get your feet up and head to that art/design conference, workshop, and outreach your friend invited you to. Who knows? You might even find your other half.

#5 Use Print-on-Demand Services for Your Art/Design

Print-on-demand services are a lucrative way for designers and artists to make money from their art and spread the word about their designs. Print-on-demand allows you to upload illustrations, photographs and designs to Printbest, Printify, Zazzle and more. These companies will print your artwork on products such as mugs, tote bags, shirts, etc and offer you a percentage of the sales. They handle every aspect of the process, including shipping.

Another option is collaborating with clothing brands to have your art/design on clothes. This way, you can explore other mediums, such as fashion design, for your artistic expression. Who knows? You might find a new passion.  

#6 Teach Art/Design Classes and Workshops

If you believe teaching is also your calling, this is an excellent opportunity to make money from your art/design and have your Nigerian parents on your case.

But seriously, what you know is what someone else could be struggling to learn. There's a growing demand for art teachers who can teach and help adults and kids become better at painting/designing. Search for art schools, community centres or anyone who needs private lessons.

You can also organise art workshops by partnering with famous artists/designers and publicising the art workshop online (this is another situation where your networking skills come into play). You can make money from the registration fee, partnerships, and sponsorships and also gain publicity. In all you do, make sure you are offering significant value.  

#7 Participate in Art Exhibitions and Fairs

With the increasing awareness and interest in art/design in Nigeria, art exhibitions have become more popular especially in galleries like Alliance Francaise, Rele gallery and Omenka gallery. Through art fairs, customers can interact with and feel the impact of your art in person, an experience they would miss if they were looking at your art online.

Fairs like Art x Lagos are also great opportunities to showcase your art. The perk of displaying your art at an art fair is that it allows you to earn money without gallery representation.

Art exhibitions and fairs often have an extensive collection of people from various niches and provide an excellent opportunity to network. Attend open nights, start conversations with other artists and curators and exchange contacts.

#8 Participate in Art/Design Competitions

Competitions are a great way to make money and fame from your art/design but only if you win. If you don't win, you go home empty-handed, and your parents will ask if the winner has two heads (who knows? Maybe they are actually a two-headed alien disguised as a human, but your parents wouldn't understand!).

But seriously, ensure you put your best foot forward in any competition. Even if you don't make it to the top 3, it is still a win because art competitions, like the National Arts Competition, are also an opportunity for artists to gain publicity, recognition, and respect. Even if you didn't get money, you fit use exposure hold body (Don’t come for us abeg).

#9 Accept Art Commissions

Accepting commissions is another way to make money from your art/design. In this case, a collector approaches you directly to create an artwork or design on demand, often with a specific subject or specifications in mind. The best part is that the client pays for the artwork from the start! Although you do have to finish the artwork, just saying.

You can begin by opening a Paystack or Flutterwave store to make it easier for clients to pay. The range of people reaching out to you all boils down to your online presence and your connections in the industry.

#10 Collaborate with Brands and Businesses

Many businesses are looking for graphic designers and artists to help them create unique and eye-catching designs for their marketing materials, packaging, or product lines. Create a strong portfolio, reach out to local businesses that align with your artistic style and propose a collaboration. Not only will this make you money, but it can go a long way in improving your credibility as an artist/designer.

#11 Offer Art Consultations

You may not have lived up to your parent’s expectations of becoming a medical consultant, but by offering art consultations, you can at least get to be some kind of consultant (okay, enough with the doctor jokes).
Seriously, many businesses and individuals in Nigeria are starting to recognise the transformative power of art in their spaces. Position yourself as a go-to consultant, where you guide individuals in selecting artworks, curating collections, or even advising on incorporating art into their spaces.

Final Thoughts

Being an artist/designer is not synonymous with being broke. With these tips and the favour of the gods, you can leverage your artistic skills and make enough money from your art/design to live comfortably. It may be daunting at first, but don't give up; there are so many doors your art/design can open for you!