Five Masters of Nigerian Art Worth Celebrating

Five Masters of Nigerian Art Worth Celebrating

Often, talented Nigerian artists showcase their works in art exhibitions to celebrate the beauty of nature, culture and modernity. With art being one of our mediums of expression, Nigeria boasts a fine list of creatives whose work range from paintings and sculptures to photography and mixed media. These artists have contributed greatly to the development of art in Nigeria. Let’s explore and enjoy the beauty of our culture through their works.

Ben Enwonwu 

Ben Enwonwu is one of the most prominent African artists who led the international visibility of African Art in all media, wood bronze and painting. He is a first-generation painter, sculptor and the first Nigerian artist to gain international recognition. Ben Enwonwu was the first African to be admitted into August exhibition spaces in Europe and the United States and was also the first African to be listed in international directories of contemporary art. Born on the 14th of July 1917, Ben Enwonwu became the first fellow in African Studies at the University of Lagos. In 1969, he was awarded an honorary Doctorate (D.Litt) by Ahmadu Bello University for his writings on art and in 1971, he became a visiting artist to the Institute of African Studies at Howard University, Washington D.C. That same year, the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) appointed him Nigeria’s first professor of Fine Art. In 1980, he was awarded the Nigerian National Merit Award for his contributions to art.

Tola Wewe

Tola Wewe (born 1959) is an Ondo born visual artist with a degree in Fine Arts from the University of Ife, Osun State (1983) and a master’s degree in African Visual Arts from the University of Ibadan, Oyo State (1986). Tola Wewe worked as a cartoonist before becoming a full-time studio artist in 1991. He is a founding member of the Ona movement, a group consisting of scholars, critics and practising artists who are committed to pursuing artistic excellence through the adaptation of contemporary Yoruba art and design.  Tola Wewe has participated in various group shows locally and internationally, as well as many solo exhibitions. His style of painting is credited to the Ona symbols of the Yoruba culture. This according to him remains his source of inspiration.

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Uche Okeke

Born in 1933, Uche Okeke is known for championing the revolution which started in the Nigerian Visual Arts around the 1960s. He studied at the Nigerian College of Arts, Science and Technology (1957 -1961) and the Zaria Art Society of which he was a founding member. He also studied the basic language, patterns and symbols of Uli, the traditional designs by Igbo people. Uche Okeke is credited with developing a unique mode of expression, combining Western techniques with Igbo cultural traditions. His works also depict Christian and Igbo folklore themes. Uche Okeke has inspired many African artists and Africanist art historians. His works have been the subject of many museum and gallery exhibitions, as well as publications from 1961 to date. 

Bruce Onobrakpeya

Bruce Onobrakpeya is considered one of the forerunners of modern art in Nigeria. His works have been showcased at the Tate Modern Gallery, London, National Museum of African Arts, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., and Malmö Konsthall, Sweden. Born in 1932, Bruce is known to have contributed significantly to the renaissance in contemporary art in Nigeria, with themes covering a broad range of subjects. His works are a blend of native folklores, environmental reflections, faith, and supernatural essences. Bruce Onobrakpeya was trained in the Western tradition of representational art at the Nigerian College of Arts, Science and Technology, now the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria between 1957–1962. 

Abayomi Barber 

Abayomi Barber (born in 1928) is one of Nigeria’s renowned artists. He is a painter, sculptor and graphic designer who has created some of the most captivating landscapes in Nigerian art. Abayomi Barber became the guiding light and mentor for an informal afro-surrealist school of art known as the Barber School, which aims at resolving the previously contradictory conditions of dream and reality through visual artworks and paintings. Abayomi’s works have appeared in most public and private homes in Nigeria and abroad, some of which include the Statue of Sir Wilson Churchill in London, Life bust statue of Late General Muritala Muhammed, Life statue of Chief I. O. Ogun in Abeokuta, “Oduduwa” a painting on canvas treated with sands, African Maiden (oil) and FESTAC ’77 amongst others.