SOLE TO SOUL: A SOLO EXHIBITION BY KENNY ADEWUYI

The exhibition features life-sized sculptures for the first time in Nigeria, some standing over one and a half meters tall. These towering figures, shaped with exaggerated anatomy and textured patinas, tell stories of human endurance and spiritual journeying — each title a prompt for emotional reflection: “Don’t Lose Hope,” “Why Me,” “Come to My Aid,” and “It’s Not Over Until It’s Over.” His sculptures carry not only the physical weight of the material but the emotional and spiritual journeys of humanity. The artist’s reverence for process—building kilns from scratch, sourcing found metal, and mastering the lost-wax method—is central to the meaning of his work. Each sculpture is not merely a product, but the culmination of prayer, fire, and transformation.

SOLE TO SOUL reminds us that the most profound journeys are often internal. From the grounding of our soles to the quiet stirrings of our souls, Adewuyi captures the invisible path we all walk, the one between survival and meaning, weight and wonder, form and feeling. This is not just an exhibition. It is a mirror. It is a meditation. It is a soulful walk through life.

''From the first time I encountered Kenny Adewuyi’s sculptures, I was instantly drawn to their feet.  I touched their feet and felt connected to deep personalities and stories, which came alive across their ridges and contours. Adewuyi’s feet are metaphors for the journey of life. Each of his elongated figurative works remind us of the highs and lows of life experience,  etched into the secret soles of our feet. Just like the well known saying reminds us not to judge another person, until we have walked in their shoes, Adewuyi’s sculptures each bring a unique and profound perspective to physical and emotional journeying. Touching someone’s feet must be one of the purest forms of vulnerability and trust.  From the tip of their gnarled toes to the rough soles, Kenny’s sculpted feet have wandered across many miles of his consciousness. They are the most exaggerated element of his figures. Adewuyi’s sculptures remind us that life is experienced through the feet, not the head. His rough and smooth surfaces speak a universal language—one of faith, love, despair, and renewal. The feet are exaggerated, not for drama, but because they carry us through all that is seen and unseen.''

''Upon arriving in Nigeria in 1996 at the Alliance Française in Kaduna, I was quickly impressed and intrigued by Kenny's work. The power of his sculptures reflected so much of what we all experienced in this captivating country, yet full of contrasts. Everyone knew Kenny, he was even imitated, and I was truly curious to meet the artist behind the work. The encounter was beyond my expectations and led to a solo exhibition at the Alliance Française, which was a great success. Then, I was fortunate enough to stay in touch and follow Kenny's work, and my feelings have never changed; indeed, he is a remarkable artist and a wonderful person.''

Rose Marié ROULON
Director of the Alliance Française in Kaduna from 1996 to 1999

 ''Adewuyi's technique of bronze casting is unique and painstakingly rigorous. From his student days at Ahamdu Bello University in Zaria, where he completed his Masters of Fine Art MFA in 1996,  Adewuyi avoided using the local foundry, building his own kiln, and going through a long and arduous process of lost wax casting''. ProfessorJacob Jari

“My work reflects what I see around me — the unspoken stories of hardship, hope, and spiritual transformation.

Art for me is not decoration — it’s dialogue. Each piece invites the viewer to reflect, question, and connect.”

 Kenny Adewuyi