Page 2 - African Art Catalogue

ABOUT JESSICA OMITOLA OVIE IST KINGS IRURU

(NIGERIAN, BORN 1964)
(BRITISH NIGERIAN, BORN 1992)
ABAYOMI SOKENU NORBERT OKPU Jessica Omitola is a self-taught Ovie is a figurative painter,
(NIGERIAN, BORN 1976) (NIGERIAN, BORN 1974) portrait artist from Manchester. print-maker and sculptor, predom-
She began drawing in 2012 whilst inantly inspired by African motifs,
Born in Lagos, where he still lives Norbert Okpu concluded his art in University as a 19-year-old med- natural patterns, and geometric
and works, Abayomi studied Fine education in 1999 and has exhibit- ical undergraduate, isolating her- forms. He received an Honours de-
and Applied Arts at the Yaba Col- ed both locally and internationally self in her bedroom learning how gree in Visual Arts from Salford and
lege of Technology. With a mas- in various exhibitions and muse- to draw faces in careful detail, was awarded best show for his pre-
tery of oil paint, he has also recent- ums. He received an artist in resi- overtime developing her own style. sentation during his college days.
ly begun to explore other media in dency grant from Vermont Studio
his new series of works with the Center (Johnson, Vermont 2014). DAMOLA ADEPOJU CHRISTOPHER ANKELI
use of spray paints and news print. (NIGERIAN, BORN 1975) (NIGERIAN, BORN 1972)
NELSON OKOH
(NIGERIAN, BORN 1974) Damola studied Fine Art at the Christopher hails from Kaduna,
BOLAJI OGUNWO Institute of Textile Technology, in in the northern part of Nigeria.
(NIGERIAN, BORN 1978)
Nelson is a self-taught Nigerian Lagos. In 2018, he embarked on His work predominantly involves
artist who has been painting an artist residency in California, using paint; however he explores
Bolaji received his arts training at USA, and was awarded a certifi- adopting unconventional ma-
the University of Benin. His strong and sculpting for over 15 years. cate of recognition for his contri- terials for his art pieces. He has
interest in the diverse cultures of His mastery of the palette knife butions to Contemporary African taken part in several exhibitions
Nigeria inspire his works based on has come with the development of arts by the city of Moreno Valley. and is a full-time studio artist.
the fervour of contemporary tra- unique styles like the artist’s Drip-
ditional Yoruba festivities, cutting ple Impression, Spiral Impression
across the spheres of Northern and some other yet evolving styles. JOSEPHE COCLES
Nigeria royal equestrian displays. (FRENCH, BORN 1967)
AKHILE EHIFORIA
(NIGERIAN, BORN 1975) Josephe was selected to study at
GEORGE EDOZIE the prestigious Ecole Nationale
(NIGERIAN, BORN 1972) Akhile belongs to the new gener- Superieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris
ation of Nigerian artists, whose at the age of 19. Paradoxically de-
Edozie studied at the University of works have continued to divert scribing invisible visual art as her
Benin, Benin City, where he ma- attention away from mainstream philosophy, Cocles is passionate
jored in Painting in 1996. He lives themes of artistic representation, about making visible the internal
and works in Lagos, Nigeria, as focusing on minimal pictorial im- explorations of the human mind.
a full-time studio artist and has ageries associated with rural life.
featured in many local and inter- FIDEL OYIOGU
national exhibitions.
OKEY IBEABUCHI (NIGERIAN, BORN 1957)
(NIGERIAN, BORN 1972)
JOEL UTUEDOR Oyiogu trained at the Institute of
(NIGERIAN, BORN 1972) Okey taps from his nation’s cultur- Management and Technology, and
al diversity as can be seen in some worked as a cartoonist. His interest
Joel Utuedor studied Fine Art at of his works with influences from in aesthetic elements is reflected
the Auchi Polytechnic, Edo state. Uli (South-eastern Nigeria), Benin in his appropriation of forms and
Some of Utuedor’s realistic life-size art and Nok culture. His relief works geometric images associated with
portraitures offer a close study on are influenced by the works of El shrine mural paintings of Uli tradi-
the politics of gender. He lives in Anatsui, whom he had the privi- tion from his native region.
Lagos and works from his home. lege of receiving tutelage from.