If there are many Nigerian artists to follow or see their exhibitions, then Alex Nwokolo comes among the top.
His painstakingly curated works speak volume of mastery of his craft amid visuals that engage, relate and inform.
The prolific painter, cum mixed-media master is an epitome of creative ingenuity with works in private hands, galleries, museums and corporate collections across the world.
A master of his art, Nwokolo works in a wide range of materials and styles, and has cut an edge for himself in the art scenes. Over the decades of practice, he has successfully executed different styles and material explorations, amid freedom in expressing himself as well as bringing out the accurate visual effects in his creation.
Moreover, with experience spanning decades, amid many joint and solo exhibitions, in and outside the country, the Federal Polytechnic Auchi Fine Art graduate has really come of age long ago and now ranks among art masters in his clime.
These are among the reasons to meet the artist and appreciate his creative ingenuity, especially as he stages his solo exhibition in partnership with Alexis Galleries in Lagos.
Titled “Now and Beyond”, the solo exhibition of paintings and mixed media, features new works by Nwokolo, an artist whose experience cuts across studio, gallery management and entrepreneurial art.
The works, numbering 22, are mainly recent outputs by the artist, done in his studio in Ajah, Lagos.
Some are in series and narrate the growth in Nwokolo’s unapologetic styles and technique, but most importantly pointing to the direction where creativity abounds. The works are also aesthetically pleasing, intriguing, amid command of draughtsmanship and relatable with images, activities, events, stories of an everyday human.
Now and Beyond will open to the public live on Saturday, October 30, 2021, from 3 pm-6 pm, and runs till November 12, 2021, from 10 am-6 pm (daily) at Alexis Galleries, No. 282, Akin Olugbade Street, Off Idowu Martins Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Speaking on the forthcoming exhibition, the artist expressed joy exhibiting at Alexis Gallery, commending the art outfit for offering many Nigerian artists a platform to grow in their career, especially younger artists.
He explained that Now and Beyond is one of his many solo exhibitions, but it is unique in many ways; from the technique applied, the timeliness of the works, the appeal and especially, the import of the works on stages of his career.
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He confessed struggling with the right title for the exhibition until he settled for Now and Beyond because of its appropriateness and explanatory to his career stages.
“I have both titled and untitled works. The title speaks more of the ‘Now’ aspect of the exhibition, while the untitled takes you to the ‘Beyond’, that is my future”, he explained.
Some of the titled works include: #EndSARS (The Blue line), #EndSARS (The candlelight – for those who lost their lives), High Street, Heir Apparent,among others.
In her comment on the exhibition, Patty Chidiac-Mastrogiannis, CEO Alexis Galleries and The HomeStores, as well as the curator of the exhibition, noted that the gallery is pleased to exhibit Nwokolo, who she described as one the contemporary Nigerian artists who standout because of their enthralling works and great personalities.
“We like him as a person and also love his works because of their creativity and quality. You have to appreciate an artist and his works in order to truly exhibit him; the two have to work together for good result”, she explained.
She promised the public an intriguing experience at the exhibition. Also, in the tradition of Alexis Galleries in donating part of the exhibition proceeds to charity, Patty noted that Child Life-Line will be a beneficiary this time.
“We are pleased to announce that the gallery will be partnering with Child Life-Line, a non for profit organisation that helps children living rough and on their own on the street of Lagos, seeking to reconnect them with family and get them back into school or vocational training, by donating part of the exhibition proceeds to its course”, she said.
In line with the reality of our time, the exhibition will be offering virtual and live views, with the virtual tour published on the opening day, on the gallery’s social media handles; Instagram- alexisgalleries, Facebook- Thehomestores & Alexisgalleries.
The exhibition is sponsored by Pepsi, Tiger, Indomie, Mikano, The Guardian, Wazobia Tv, Cool FM, UPS, Haier Thermocool, Cobranet, Delta Airlines, Aina Blankson, The Homestores, Art Café, Lost In A City, and AMG Logistics.
