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Bruce Onobrakpeya

Nigerian printmaker, painter and sculptor (born 1932)

Bruce Obomeyoma Onobrakpeya (born 30 August 1932) is a Nigerian printmaker, painter and sculptor. He has exhibited at the Tate Modern in London, the National Museum of African Art of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., and the Malmö Konsthall in Malmö, Sweden.^[2] The National Gallery of Modern Art, Lagos, has an exhibit of colourful abstract canvases by Onobrakpeya,^[3] and his works were found at the Virtual Museum of Modern Nigerian Art.^[4]

Early years

Bruce Onobrakpeya was born in Agbarha-Otor in Delta State, the son of an Urhobo carver. He was raised as a Christian but also learned the traditional beliefs. His family moved to Benin City, Edo State, when he was a child. He attended Western Boys High School, where he was taught art by Edward Ivehivboje. While in high school, he also attended drawing classes at the British Council Art Club in Benin City. During this time Onobrakpeya was inspired by the watercolour paintings of Emmanuel Erabor and a lec

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Bruce Onobrakpeya is one of Nigeria's most prestigious Partistic pioneers, and presents 36 rare prints spanning his prolific career. He grew up in Delta State, Nigeria, and obtained a Diploma in Fine Arts and a Teacher's Certificate from the Nigerian College of Arts, Science and Technology (now called Ahmadu Bello University) in Zaria in 1962. Onobrakpeya was a pioneer member of the Zaria Art Society, a student group which sought to develop a new aesthetic language deeply rooted in African tradition and philosophy. The group included Uche Okeke, Yusuf Grillo, Demas Nwoko, Oseloka Osadebe and other students who drew strength from the post-colonial independence movement. These aspiring young artists were later called the "Zaria Rebels" and quickly made their mark internationally. "We were not rebelling against anything as such but thought that the idea of just using the western art technique without relating it to our culture wasn't right" commented Onobrakpeya, who began to experiment with diverse media that showcased Nigeria's

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Throughout his distinguished career spanning over fifty years, Bruce Onobrakpeya has cemented himself as one of Nigeria's most celebrated contemporary artists.

Experimenting with diverse mediums including printmaking, serigraphy, painting, sculpture, and installation, Onobrakpeya's artistic practice has been integral in developing the modern tradition of Nigerian art through a re-invigoration of indigenous cultural iconographies. His unconventional processes sparked new art techniques in printmaking and relief sculpture, notably in his work with additive plastography. His themes often focus on Nigerian histories, narratives and symbols.

Born in Agbarha-Otor in Delta State, Nigeria in 1932, Bruce Onobrakpeya’s career took a decisive turn during his university studies at the Nigerian College of Arts, Science, and Technology in Zaria in the 1960s. As a member of the Zaria Arts Society, popularly known as the "Zaria Rebels", Onobrakpeya combined his training in the Western-representational style with a focus on Nigeria’s artistic traditions.

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