Ken Nwadiogbu is a Nigerian born multidisciplinary artist. He calls his method contemporealism – a fusion that is primarily centered around hyper-realism and contemporary art. In 2019, Ken Nwadiogbu was awarded the prestigious The Future Awards Africa.
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. As he developed in his drawing, his fame among his small circle grew and the encouragement from his friends spurred him on. 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.
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. 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. 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.
A Voice for #MeToo
According to an interview with CNN, 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 who is saying, 'I want to speak out. I want to loud my consciousness. I want to loud who I am."
2018, Generation Y- A Contemporary Art Exhibition by Retro Africa. Held at The Exhibition Pavilion, Abuja, Nigeria.
2018, Moniker Art Fair- A Contemporary Art Fair sponsored by Creative Debuts and held at Greenpoint Terminal Warehouse, Brooklyn, NYC.
2018, Anti Trump Art Show- 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- First International Contemporary Art Fair in West Africa held at Federal Palace, Lagos, Nigeria.
