Considering the creative ingenuity that bears witness of how his art has grown in the last 25 years, you cannot tell the story of contemporary art in Nigeria without a mention of George Edozie, writes Obinna Emelike
If you have ever wondered what it means to be multi-discipline in one’s career, George Edozie epitomizes that.
From sketches, drawings to paintings and to sculpture, mix-media and to other crafts, Edozie is a ‘jack of all trades and master of all’.
No matter the material, whether with pencil, brush or bare hands, Edozie’s creativity has never been in question as masterpieces always compensate for his creative efforts.
Those who follow his career progression will appreciate the incremental progress that has overtime resulted in unique techniques that have produced masterpieces and set Edozie among art masters of his time.
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His impressionist paintings are very obvious as they feature angular characters and a rich array of textures, which are integral to his works. His art delves into themes that address social-cultural, political, and economic biases in society, evoking strong emotions such as love, belonging, strife, and joy.
Edozie is very bold with his works. The experimental artist also explores various media, including fabric and found materials, to create installation pieces.
In 2014, he showcased his boldness in his solo exhibition titled ‘Shifting the Paradigm’ at the Museum of Contemporary Art North Miami, Florida, where he challenged the narratives and biases of cultural art in relation to the artist’s life.
The installation featured paintings and life-size pieces crafted from fabric, paint, feathers, and found materials, some of which bore a striking resemblance to the Igbo mmanwu, referencing Onitsha cultural background, knowledge, spirituality, and traditional art. The exhibition celebrated Edozie’s culture and identity as an Igbo person and was listed among the top four best exhibitions during Art Basel Miami that year.
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Edozie is also an art curator and art restoration expert. He has facilitated the conservation and restoration of artworks in various media for important collections and galleries, including SMO Contemporary Art, Hour Glass Gallery, Alexis Gallery, Arthouse Contemporary, AFA Framers, Thought Pyramid Gallery, the Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe Collection for the Chimedie Museum, the Mike Oduah Collection, the Frederick Udaka Collection, and many others. His restoration work on canvas includes valuable paintings by renowned artists such as Ben Enwonwu, Uche Okeke, Nelson Cole, Oseloka Osadebe, Ablade Glover, Twin 77, Gani Odutokun, Ben Osaghae, and Abiodun Olaku.
He has conserved and restored works in a range of media, and in 2020, restored over a hundred works including fibreglass sculptures, wood carvings, ceramics, metal foils and paintings for a private collection in Lagos. Edozie has also worked extensively, overseeing commissions and restorations of artworks in stained glass, mosaic, brass and bronze for the Catholic Church in Nigeria, in churches across the country.
Edozie is also an internationally recognized artist, who has exhibited extensively in both solo and group exhibitions in Nigeria, the United States, and France. Some of which include; ‘New Nigerian Conjunctures: The Art of George Edozie’, National Museum Lagos, Nigeria, (2018); ‘Back to Black Art Africa’, Art Basel Miami (2017); ‘Afro Love’, Alexis Gallery, Lagos (2015); African Way of Art, La Galerie Vendome. His works have found homes in both public and private collections and spaces like the Museum of Contemporary Art North Miami, the Indianapolis Museum, and the Studio Museum Harlem in New York, The Pan Atlantic University Museum, Lagos and the Chimedie Museum, each piece, serving as a unique educational resource for visitors. A writer, Edozie co-authored the book;101 Contemporary Artists, A Celebration of Modern Nigerian Art and Nigerian Contemporary Art, which was published in 2010.
Edozie is the president of the Guild of Fine Artists GFA and a member of the Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA).
But most importantly, this year, the artist, who was born in 1972 in Enugu State, celebrated his 25 years successful career in visual art.
He marked the remarkable career and life mileage with a special solo exhibition titled ‘Gatherings’, which featured his recent works across paintings, drawings, and sculpture from March 25 to May 30, 2024 at the Wheatbaker Hotel Ikoyi, Lagos.
In the anniversary exhibition curated by SMO Contemporary Art, Edozie delved into themes of unity and collaboration by depicting diverse micro and macro gatherings in his expansive canvases and powerful portraits. His exploration of family dynamics, and the complexities of human interactions on the communal, national and regional levels, provided a rich tapestry of meaning and conjecture in his work.
“As an experimentalist, I endeavor to transcend cultural barriers and foster a sense of global unity through my art. My paintings serve as reflections of the universal human experience, transcending racial and ethnic boundaries,” Edozie explained at the 25th career anniversary.
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Some industry stakeholders also commended the artist for his huge contributions in the 25 years of his career.
According to Sandra Mbanefo Obiago, curator and creative director of SMO Contemporary Art, “In an era dominated by artificial intelligence, it becomes imperative to acknowledge and celebrate the authentic creativity and craftsmanship of artists like George Edozie.
“It is critical that we document important African artists like Edozie, who has not only contributed significantly to contemporary art, but who worked as a conservator of modernist masterpieces in many private and institutional collections; Edozie is arguably one of the leading professional art conservators currently restoring works in Nigeria.”
Speaking on Edozie’s latest exhibition, Jess Castellote, director, Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art, noted that, “Gatherings offers viewers a chance to traverse narratives shaping our shared humanity, transcending superficial boundaries.
“It celebrates an artist who, with each stroke, invites us to look beyond the surface and immerse ourselves in the stories woven through the fabric of his body of work.”
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While looking forward to another 25 years of practice as a studio artist, Edozie recalls his days of little beginning and journey in the art landscape.
According to him, his artistic talent emerged during his early childhood in Nsukka where he would create paintings, sketches and other crafts.
Considering the strong desire to hone his skills, he enrolled at the University of Benin where he graduated with a Bachelors Honors degree in Fine and Applied Arts in 1996.
Since his graduation, Edozie ventured into full time art and he has never looked back. The artist assures that he will not look back, even at 50 years as a studio artist.
