Ken Nwadiogbu

Ken Nwadiogbu (popularly known as KenArt) is a Nigerian born multidisciplinary artist.[1] He calls his method contemporealism – a fusion that is primarily centered around hyper-realism and contemporary art.[2] In 2019, Ken Nwadiogbu was awarded the prestigious The Future Awards Africa[3] and was named by Guardian Life as one of the most “Outstanding Personalities of 2019”.[4]

Ken Nwadiogbu
Born
Kenechukwu Emmanuel Nwadiogbu
NationalityNigerian
OccupationVisual artist
Notable work
The King’s Diary, The Value of Nothing series, Packages in Brown Skin
StyleHyperrealism, Contemporary Art
Websitewww.kennwadiogbu.com

Early life and education

Kenechukwu Nwadiogbu did not set out to become an artist. Born at a time when parents still choose professions for their children and fields in science were deemed the most lucrative, Nwadiogbu wanted to study civil engineering. Although, this 17-year-old Nwadiogbu's life is about to change as he discovers art in the most intriguing way- puppy love.[5]

As he developed in his drawing, his fame among his small circle grew and the encouragement from his friends spurred him on.[6]

Nwadiogbu attended the University of Lagos, where he studied Civil and Environmental Engineering. His journey with art began in this university, and despite having no formal training, he has pushed to become an interesting contemporary artist from Nigeria.[7]

Style of art

According to an interview with Juxtapoz Magazine, Nwadiogbu responds on canvas to socio-political structures and issues around him and the world. Through meticulous hyperrealist technique, he constructs arresting images rich with deft use of form and space. Cleverly, his paintings regularly feature obscure portraits of everyday people peeking through the ripped paper, elevating and situating Africans in the global context. Weighty issues like gender equality, African cultures, global politics, Black power, and most recently knife-crime come to the conversation by way of his mind-boggling technique.[8] Working with charcoal, pencil, and acrylic, Nwadiogbu aims to achieve a deeper meaning through his art, one which goes beyond the visually spectacular facade he presents into different themes.[9]

His art is inspired by social movements and principles while evaluating, interrogating and challenging socio-political structures and issues within society. He perceives his art as a response to society and a way to inspire one or two people to re-evaluate their socio-political structures.[10]

A Voice for #MeToo

According to an interview with CNN,[11] Nwadiogbu's most recent work was a piece for the global #MeToo movement—a work he's so passionate about, he completed it within 24 hours. In the #MeToo piece, two girls are wrapped in nylon, one is depressed and resigned to her fate; the other is angry and determined to push through the barrier. It's an emotional piece, born from thoughtfulness and his passion to give young African girls a voice.

"I want the African girl to be like the second girl (in the painting) who is saying, 'I want to speak out. I want to loud my consciousness. I want to loud who I am."[12]

Awards and residencies

Exhibitions
  • 2016, Insanity[14]- Sponsored by Frot Foundation. Held at Omenka Gallery, Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria.
  • 2017, It's Not Furniture[15] - Sponsored by Temple Management Company. Held at Omenka Gallery,[16] Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria.
  • 2017, Finding your Identity - Sponsored by ENACOF. Held at British Council, Abuja, Nigeria.
  • 2017, ARTYRAMA Art Exhibition[17]- Curated by Jess Castellote. Held at Alhaji Bashorun, Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria.
  • 2018, EMPOWERMENT Exhibition[18] - By Creative Debuts and Nasty Women NYC. Held at Black and White Building, Rivington Street, London.
  • 2018, Generation Y[19]- A Contemporary Art Exhibition by Retro Africa. Held at The Exhibition Pavilion, Abuja, Nigeria.
  • 2018, Moniker Art Fair[20]- A Contemporary Art Fair sponsored by Creative Debuts and held at Greenpoint Terminal Warehouse, Brooklyn, NYC.
  • 2018, Anti Trump Art Show[21]- A contemporary art show about the ‘dangerous racism, sexism and narcissism that flow daily from the White House,' held at the July Rivington Studios, 1 Bath Place, Shoreditch London.
  • 2018, Afriuture Exhibition- By Ramati Art Africa in association with the Commonwealth Africa Summit. Held at the Ontario Investment and Trade centre, Toronto, Canada.
  • 2018, Art X Lagos[22]- First International Contemporary Art Fair in West Africa held at Federal Palace, Lagos, Nigeria.
  • 2019, LAX-SFO[23]- A group exhibition held at Heron Arts, San Francisco, California.
  • 2019, IN THE MAKING[24]- A Contemporary Art Exhibition held at Retro Africa Gallery, Abuja, Nigeria.
  • 2019, LAX-MSY[25]- A group exhibition held at Red Truck Gallery, New Orleans, Louisiana.
  • 2019, LAX-LHR[26]- Co-Curated Exhibition with Stolen Space held at Osborn Street, London.
  • 2019, Art X Lagos[27]- International Contemporary Art Fair in West Africa held at Federal Palace, Lagos, Nigeria.
  • 2019, Moniker Art Fair[28]- A Contemporary Art Fair held at The Chelsea Sorting Office, Chelsea, London.
  • 2019, CONTEMPOREALISM Solo show[29]- The debut International Solo Show by Ken Nwadiogbu held in Bricklane Gallery, London.
  • 2019, Miami Art Week[30]- A Contemporary Art Exhibition held in The Citadel, Miami, FL.
  • 2020, ART OF DIVERSITY[31]- A Contemporary Art Exhibition featuring winners of the Bridgeman Award, held in Yinka Sonibare CBE RA studio, London.

References
  1. "Ken Nwadiogbu: Nigeria's groundbreaking, hyperrealist artist". CNN. Retrieved 2018-04-05.
  2. "Ken Nwadiogbu: Artist Statement". kennwadiogbu official website. Retrieved 2018-04-05.
  3. "winners at The Future Awards Africa 2019". TFAA 2019. Retrieved 2019-11-26.
  4. "Guardian Life's Outstanding Personalities Of 2019". Guardian Life Magazine. Retrieved 2019-12-29.
  5. "Ken Nwadiogbu: The Rise Of Nigeria's Contemporealist". Guardian Life. Retrieved 2019-09-29.
  6. "Ken Nwadiogbu: The Rise Of Nigeria's Contemporealist". Guardian Life. Retrieved 2019-09-29.
  7. "Hyper-realistic drawings by Kenart". The Spark. Retrieved 2018-04-04.
  8. "Ken Nwadiogbu Opens His International Debut at Brick Lane Gallery, London". JUXTAPOZ MAGAZINE. 2019-09-26.
  9. "This Nigerian Artist's Artworks Are So Realistic It's Hard To Believe He Used Nothing More Than A Pencil". Bored Panda. Retrieved 2018-02-16.
  10. "Ken Nwadiogbu addresses issues of race and gender with his 'contemporealist' art". Creative Boom. 2019-10-01.
  11. "Ken Nwadiogbu: Inside Nigeria's hyperrealist art scene". CNN. Retrieved 2018-04-11.
  12. "Ken Nwadiogbu: Inside Nigeria's hyperrealist art scene". CNN. Retrieved 2018-04-11.
  13. "2019 Future Awards Africa – Complete List of Winners", The Herald. 25 November 2019.
  14. "We're creating platform for devt of young artists —Frank Momoh - Vanguard News". Vanguard News. 2016-12-17. Retrieved 2018-02-07.
  15. Omotosho, Kehinde. "It"s Not Furniture: Exhibition reveals art as a representation of young contemporary individuals". Retrieved 2018-02-07.
  16. "'It's NOT furniture' exhibition opens at Omenka Gallery in Lagos". Visual Magazine. 2017-05-25. Retrieved 2018-02-07.
  17. Editor, Online (2017-12-09). "Artyrama Hosts Digital Art Gallery". THISDAYLIVE. Retrieved 2018-02-07.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  18. Debut, Creative. "Nasty Women Exhibition: Empowerment". Retrieved 2018-03-27.
  19. "Generation Y- A Contemporary Art Exhibition". Retro Africa. Retrieved 2018-04-05.
  20. "Moniker Art Fair". Creative Debut. Retrieved 2018-05-11.
  21. "Anti Trump Art Show". FAD Magazine. Retrieved 2018-07-08.
  22. "Art X Lagos". Artyrama Gallery. Retrieved 2018-11-02.
  23. "LAX / SFO Pt. III". Thinkspace Gallery. Retrieved 2018-06-15.
  24. "IN THE MAKING". Retro Africa Gallery. Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  25. "LAX / MSY". Thinkspace Gallery. Retrieved 2018-08-10.
  26. "LAX / LHR". Thinkspace Gallery. Retrieved 2018-09-03.
  27. "Art X Lagos". Artyrama Gallery. Retrieved 2019-11-02.
  28. "Contemporealism". Premier Art Solutions. Retrieved 2019-10-02.
  29. "Contemporealism". Premier Art Solutions. Retrieved 2019-10-03.
  30. "Miami Art Week". The Artplug Powerhouse. Retrieved 2019-12-06.
  31. "Art of Diversity". Bridgeman Images. Retrieved 2020-03-12.
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