Bruce Onobrakpeya Nigerian, b. 1931

SMO is proud to present Our Story II, an exhibition of artworks selected from the Wheatbaker hotel’s permanent collection. Our Story II celebrates highlights of SMO’s curatorial journey over the...

This commemorative exhibition of sixteen carefully curated artworks from the Wigwe Collectioncelebrates the spirit, ethos, passion, and exceptional eye of one of Africa’s most inspiring and dynamic art collectors. Each...

In celebration of 60 years of studio practice, ENI! presents 31 rare prints spanning the prolific career of Professor Bruce Onobrakpeya, one of Nigeria’s most prestigious artistic pioneers.

Prof. Bruce Onobrakpeya is one of Africa’s most gifted and inspiring experimental artists. To know and respect him is to admire his work, as well as appreciate the immense positive influence he has had on a whole generation of artists, who have been reinvigorated and strengthened by his Harmattan Workshops. The quintessential teacher at heart, his life work has been to inspire others to discover and nurture the “artist child” within them.

The Aba Na Nya series is named after the fabrics that have been used as a textile canvas for his work. Individual mask like faces created from engravings and multi-media collages with pieces of cloth have been photographed using a new xerograph technique.

The exhibition is made up of exceptional pieces which reflect over 50 years of Professor Bruce Onobrakpeya outstanding career. There are serigraphs from his famous “Sunshine period” of the 1960s-1970s, and paintings and etchings that feature images from his “Dance to Enchanting Songs” series. There are also small pendants the size of a mobile phone, that reflect images and symbols drawn from his “Esirogbo” and “migratory media” techniques.