Research the Estate
For scholars, curators, students and writers.
The family is still documenting the life and work of Reuben Ugbine. Tell us what you are studying and we will say plainly what we can share.
Start with the public record.
These sources are open to everyone. Read them first, then ask us what they leave out.
British Museum, object 2018,2026.1
Traditional hairdressing, a painted terracotta tableau bought from his Benin City studio in September 2018. The record includes the artist’s own words from an interview that month. His artist record is listed separately. Artist record
Coronation Art Gallery: artist page
An artist page with biographical notes. Check its dates against the museum record and the Estate.
Bonhams, London: lot 59, sale 24622
A sculpture offered at auction.
What the Estate can help with.
Dates and facts
Ask us to check a date, a place or a title against the family’s records before you print it. Sources already disagree on some details, and we would rather you cite the right one.
The catalogue
The Estate’s catalogue lists more than 92 works; nineteen are shown on this site. Ask about a work by title and year, and we will give you what the catalogue records.
The archive
The Foundation is documenting his archive. Ask whether it holds material for your question, and we will tell you honestly what exists and what we can show.
Other pieces and collections
Some of his works are in private collections, and the Estate would like to know where.
If you are studying a piece you own, a collection that includes his work, or a work you suspect is his, tell us where it is, what it looks like, and anything that came with it: a label, a receipt, a letter, a photograph. We will compare it with the catalogue and add what you tell us to the record, if you agree.
If your research is about other sculptors or other pieces, the public sources above may serve you better than we can. You are still welcome to write.
How to write to us
A good enquiry lets us answer once, not three times. Please include:
- Who you are, and your institution or publisher, if any.
- What you are studying, and the works, years or places involved.
- What you need: a fact checked, an image, a viewing, an introduction.
- How you will use it (thesis, article, exhibition, book) and your deadline.
Please ask before you reproduce a photograph of a work or anything from the archive.
How to cite
Cite the primary record for anything it states, such as the British Museum for its own object. For catalogue details, name the Estate as your source, with the date we confirmed them:
Reuben Ugbine, Title (year), medium, size. Catalogue of the Estate of Reuben Ugbine, Lagos; confirmed by the Estate, [date].
Tell the Estate what you are studying.
We read every research enquiry and reply by email. If you have a deadline, say so in the first line.
