Okeke (30 April 1933 - 5 January 2016)
Born Christopher Uchefuna Okeke on 30 April 1933 in Nimo, Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria. He was born to Isaac Okonkwo Okeke and Monica Mgboye Okeke (née Okoye). Attended St. Peter Claver’s (Primary) School, Kafanchan, Metropolitan College, Onitsha, and Bishop Shanahan College, Orlu, between 1940 and 1953. He had already begun to demonstrate an avid interest in drawing and painting before being admitted to read Fine Art at Nigerian College of Arts, Science and Technology, now Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He was a contemporary Nigerian artist.
During the Field Society meeting in Jos Museum, Okeke exhibited taxidermy work participated in the preparation and presentation of Nigerian Drawings and Paintings with Bernard Fagg as curator and had a solo exhibition of drawings and paintings, in Jos and Kaduna with Sir Ahmadu Bello in attendance.
MARCH OF MASQUERADES, 1974 Fusain
During his undergraduate years, Okeke together with Yusuf Grillo, Bruce Onobrakpeya, Demas Nwoko and others, inaugurated the Zaria Art Society. In 1958 he opened a cultural centre at 30 Ibadan Street, Kafanchan, which later became the Asele Institute, Nimo.
He was appointed lecturer and acting head of Fine Arts Department at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, in the early 1970s. He introduced new courses and research into Igbo Uli art tradition. In 1973, he designed the first course programme of the Department of Fine and Applied Arts, Institute of Management and Technology, Enugu, and initiated postgraduate courses in the Department of Fine Arts, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
Ana Mmuo, 1961
He is the Director, Institute of African Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Visiting Professor to the Department of Creative Arts, University of Port Harcourt, Honorary Deputy Director-General (Africa) of International Biographical Centre, Cambridge, among numerous other engagements with many educational and cultural institutions in different parts of the world.
He is an inspiration to many Nigerian artists and Africanist art historians, including some of the world’s avant-garde.
He is a father figure in the history of Nigerian modernism.
MALE-MODEL-AT-REST- 1966-OIL-ON-BOARD-23.6-X-23.5-in
1965 Illustrated Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart Designed book jacket and cover for John Munonye’s The Only Son
2015 OIS Services passport and Visa Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa.
1989 Oko Cross, St. John’s Anglican Church, Oko, Anambra State. Portraits of Father Iwene Tansi, commissioned by the Holy Trinity Cathedral, Onitsha, Anambra State.
STATIONS OF THE CROSS I AND II, 1976
1976 Park and fountain designs for the Open Spaces Development Commission, Anambra State.
1975 Fourteen Stations of the Cross, St Peter’s Catholic Church chapel, University of Nigeria Nsukka.
1971–74 Designed Archbishop’s Throne and portals, Holy Trinity Cathedral, Onitsha, Anambra State.
1971 Designed and produced carved wooden doors for Holy Trinity Cathedral, Onitsha, Anambra State.
1967 Stage design for television serial, Heritage, ENTV production.
1966 EDI Sculpture, Enugu Campus, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Film titles design, Eastern Nigeria Information Service’s Film Division, Enugu, Nigeria. Sketch designs for the wrought-metal screen wall, Anglican Church chapel, University of Nigeria Nsukka. Designed robes for the Presbyterian Church Choir, Uwani, Enugu.
1964 Designed Boys Scouts of Nigeria Badges Designed Oil Murals and Paintings for the Eastern Nigeria Central Library, Children’s Section. Theme: Animals in Procession.
1962–63 Three murals in mosaic and stained glass for Franz Meyer and Company, Munich, Germany.
1961 Mural for the Mbari Artists and Writers Club House and Gallery, Ibadan, Nigeria.
1960 Mother Nigeria and Her Children, mural for Independence Exhibition, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria.
Variation on paper by Uche Okeke
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