Kingsley Onyeiwu – From East Nigeria: 19th Century AD

Hooks-Epstein Galleries is proud to present the first solo gallery exhibition for Kingsley Onyeiwu, which opens on Saturday, July 9, 2016. A conversation with the artist will begin at 4:00pm, followed by a reception for the artist from 5:00 to 8:00pm.

Kingsley Onyeiwu’s exhibition, From East Nigeria: 19th Century A.D., unites his love of portraiture with his heritage. He grew up in the city of Lagos, Nigeria surrounded by the knowledge and culture of his tribe, the Igbo.  His current work deals with the fact that portraiture is not only a mere representation of an individual, but how it also contains a profound concept that relates his cultural identity to the public.

In his exhibition, Kingsley approaches his work by seeking a connection which addresses the richness of his cultural knowledge and its impact on people’s lives. This connection can be used to address a variety of issues facing the community, giving each person a unique story and identity to share with the world.  His aesthetic has evolved from rendering simple portraits to incorporating symbolic details and embedding cultural context into his drawings.

Kingsley Onyeiwu is a student at Texas Southern University; his concept has been influenced by the works of Dr. John Biggers, Robert Pruitt, Kehinde Wiley, Barkley Hendrix, and Yinka Shonibare.  He was the Summer Studios 2015 resident at Project Row Houses.  Kingsley plans to pursue his Master of Fine Arts degree in the future.  He currently lives in Houston, TX.

From East Nigeria: 19th Century A.D. will continue through Saturday, August 13, 2016.