Bruce Onobrakpeya’s artistic practice has long extended beyond personal memory and cultural history to embrace the rich world of African literature. Throughout his career, he has collaborated with and drawn inspiration from celebrated Nigerian writers, translating their stories into powerful visual narratives while infusing them with his own artistic imagination and cultural experience. Encounter with
bruce onobrakpeya
15 Jun Myths, Structures, and Freedom
“Idimarah” by Bruce Onobrakpeya Bruce Onobrakpeya’s art has often drawn from the myths, structures, and ideas of his youth to express simple truths about life, while also preserving the histories and cultural memory of a people. In “Idimarah”, Onobrakpeya reflects on both life’s truisms and the social order of the world he grew up in.
26 Feb Bruce Onobrakpeya – Have You Heard II, 2010
Have You Heard (first conceived in 1970 and revisited in 2010) is a poignant reflection on the aftermath of the Nigerian Civil War. Created in the immediate shadow of war, the work shifts the focus away from the battlefield and toward its human margins. Three women gather in animated conversation, their interaction giving the piece
18 Jun The Living Mask: Kolade Oshinowo’s Celebration of Heritage
Somewhere in the East, West, North, or South of Nigeria, a century ago, a crowd would gather. The masquerade would step into the centre, its flamboyant, coloured mask vibrant and vital. The crowd would cheer—perhaps with a hint of fear. After all, this might be the dead come to life. The spirits summoned through these
20 Mar Constantly Restless- Bruce Onobrakpeya.
Bruce Onobrakpeya’s perpetual restlessness is evident in these rare totems. These sculptures embody his unyielding curiosity, profound insights, and talent for integrating ideas from different eras. The idea was originally conceived as representations within the etching, ‘Good governance,’ which employed an array of pre-colonial era sculptural totems to pay homage to the ideals of strength
19 Oct Bruce Onobrakpeya Exhibition
Onobrakpeya is arguably, Africa’s most significant living artist and it is our pleasure to present these rare deep etching artworks. The artworks present his journey over two decades from 1960 to 1977. They also present our cultural evolution in that time and his role in shaping this evolution. We hope you can join us for
06 Mar Art we Love number 1. Two women, Two boys and a father
Ben Osawe created this charcoal drawing in 1965 while still in England. This is one of a fairly large body of model drawings he did at the time. It’s created in a formal style of figurative portraiture. It’s easy to see his facility with the charcoal medium, his self-assurance and the elegance that would become
29 Sep Have You heard?
A bittersweet artwork, The colours are warm and joyful, the figures seem connected and vibrant, the adire patterns on their clothing are bold and appealing. It’s a warm artwork with a darkish theme. Created at the end of the civil war, the artwork explores the mixed emotions of these women about the end of the
18 Feb Bruce Onobrakpeya and Ore ri Canaan
Bruce Onobrakpeya has recently started to explore some of his earlier Christian-themed artworks. The first of this series is ‘Ore ri Canaan’. He had earlier explored this artwork as a deep etching on paper in 1982. Its present incarnation is as an utterly magnificent metal foil artwork. ‘Ore Ri Canaan’, explores the turning of water
28 Jun Onobrakpeya’s Musicians
Since respect for elders is all the rage at the moment, we thought we’d praise the ultimate elder, Bruce Onobrakpeya – the storyteller of Agbarha-Otor, master printmaker, probably Nigeria’s most famous living artist, and certainly the most influential over the past 5 decades. The artwork ‘Musicians’, is a rare sketch on aluminium printer’s plate done
06 Dec Stations of the Cross – Worship as style and statement
1969. Bruce Onobrakpeya would create his Station of the Cross paintings for St. Paul’s Church, Ebute Metta. He would go on to create these artworks as etchings. With the consent of the Church priest, Father Kevin Carroll, Onobrakpeya interpreted the idea of the Stations of the Cross as a local event using African characters to
03 Oct Masters as Servants
Text for The Master’s Exhibition Catalogue 2018 by Mydrim Gallery Masters as Servants Service There are no masters here. Not in a conventional sense, anyway. These are not wondrous, other-worldly beings floating in a bubble of their success. No, these are no masters. These are servant, when you think about it. They have toiled
18 Apr The long river of Memories – Okeruvbu By Bruce Onobrakpeya (1967)
Onobrakpeya says his father lived in Okeruvbu, a small town on the outskirts of Benin city, populated by Urhobo people. He would visit the town regularly and eventually did the etching ‘Okeruvbu’. The artwork was, in some way, a tribute to the town, his fond memories of his visits there and the inhabitants of the town.