Caline Chagoury Moudaber is a Lebanese-Nigerian art and design entrepreneur at the forefront of the development of the cultural scene in Lagos, Nigeria.
A passionate and dedicated advocate for the city of Lagos and its contemporary African art and design scene, she is the founder of Echo Art, a culturally oriented business that created Art Twenty One (seated in the Eko Hotels & Suites), which is the leading contemporary art space in the city, and Floor One 9, an emerging platform for the booming Lagosian design scene. Based in Lagos and raised in between Lagos, Paris, Los Angeles, and Beirut, Caline’s work centers on a celebration of Nigerian culture, heritage, tradition, and community, mixed with a distinctly international perspective.
In 2019, Caline launched Floor One 9, creating a forum for contemporary design that celebrated and exhibited the best in contemporary production from a dynamic group of furniture and product designers in Lagos, as well as a selection of designers working across the continent. Initially conceived as a standalone exhibition including work from Jean Servais Somian, Studio Lani, The Baba Tree, Namsa Leuba, Jade Folawiyo, and Ile Ila, among many others, its success has grown the concept into a more comprehensive international platform for design in the city, soon to be launched.
Prior to founding Floor One 9, Caline’s work was focused in the contemporary art sphere. In 2013, she founded Art Twenty One, a groundbreaking art space in Lagos that has mounted exhibitions of new work by leading artists living and working in Africa, including Olu Amoda, Medina Dugger, Namsa Leuba, and Paa Joe Tetteh Ashong, and hosted fashion shows and performances by groundbreaking local fashion designers including Tzar Studio, Lisa Folawiyo and I Am Isigo. As a venue, Art Twenty One has also hosted internationally significant exhibitions, including Alex Majoli & Paolo Pellegrin’s photography series on Congo first exhibited at the Rencontres d'Arles. Art Twenty One has also provided a platform for African artists internationally, showing at fairs including 1:54 (London, New York, and Marrakech), Armory Show, Art Paris and the Dubai Art Fair. Prior to launching Art Twenty One, Caline was critical to the team that launched the Lagos Photo Festival.
Caline comes from a tradition of entrepreneurship and development in Nigeria, with a family that has been integral to the construction and development industry in the country for three generations. Her work in art and design continues in this family tradition, building foundational infrastructures to promote and support the local community and industry.
Caline holds a bachelor's degree from American University in Paris and a master’s degree from Spéos Photography in Paris. She is also trained as a photographer and filmmaker.
Photo courtesy of Architectural Digest; photography: Yagazie Emezi