Artist Statement

As far as I can remember I have taken delight in creative activities . I was that child who just loved to build or make something out of ordinary materials. It was in my secondary school days that I really knew I had the talent for drawing, painting , molding and generally making things.

I studied fine art and education at the university .The Delta state university with its campus at Abraka. After graduation I worked as an apprentice with Sam Ovraiti in Auchi Edo state and in many ways I am still learning till date. I later took up employment as a gallery manager at the Tropical Arts gallery in Lagos in 1992-1994.

I went into studio practice and continued as an apprentice and personal assistant to Sam Ovraiti while operating as an art dealer from 1995-1999. when I decided to take up employment again because of economic considerations.I worked at the Thistle bar and restaurant for one year before I got enough courage to head back to the studio to continue as a full-time studio artist. In 2003 I got married and started the Yemaja gallery.

As a young apprentice I worked mostly with water colour and gouache paints on water colour paper because of shortage of money for art materials .There were many times when I had to choose between buying food and art materials. I choose art all the time and went hungry. I understood then the need to keep practicing in order to grow the art.I taught myself to work with available materials. Some times when things went well I produced collections in oil and acrylics. By the year 2005. I began to attend the harmattan workshop and under the tutourledge of Dr Bruce Onobrakpeya, I began my journey into print-making.

Life as an artist has been very challenging but rewarding. I am grateful to God almighty for allowing me come on this journey with him. Many times in the course of these 30 years of my practice as an artist, I gave up and tried to take up other jobs, but none was as rewarding as being an artist. I believe in the saying that a generation that fails to create beauty in its pursuit for civilisation will not be remembered. And I believe it to be true as evident in the works of art and architecture left behind by the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, Africans and Romans.

I have used art to advocate for some of the changes I strongly believe in. Art has taken me to places I never dreamed of reaching. It enabled me to meet people I would otherwise never have met. Creating works of art is the thing I do even when I am not paid. It is what I derive immense joy from. I hope that these art works will give the viewers and collectors as much joy as it has given me.