Photo by Anny Robert

About

Anthony Azekwoh is a contemporary artist, author and enterpreneur based in Lagos, Nigeria. His work primarily focuses on African folklore and mythology, using these themes and figures to tell stories of his country, transformation, and change. Anthony is familiar with change; teaching himself how to draw as a child after solely being a writer; dropping out of school to pursue his art career; and working between digital and traditional, painting and sculpting. Change has been a common theme in his work that he has explored with diverse subjects and mediums.

His recent endeavors include a second solo exhibition, There is a Country, which has toured Lagos, London, New York, and Abuja, gaining critical acclaim worldwide. This exhibition further cements Azekwoh's place in the global art scene, showcasing his unique ability to blend traditional techniques with digital mediums, thereby blurring the boundaries between the two. His art is not just a visual feast but a narrative tool, condensing the African experience into universal stories that resonate globally. His work explores fantastical realms, and drawing from a childhood immersed in folklore he has continued the long enshrined tradition of African storytelling through his work across a variety of mediums. His work in writing and painting alike aim to condense shared facets of the African experience into his work in a way that can connect people the world over and tell stories that he believes have been largely excluded from the global conversation.

Anthony’s work replicates traditional techniques through digital mediums, and blurs the boundary between both by producing physical, corporeal manifestations of his work. Technology is an instrumental part of his practice, as he believes it has been a catalyst for Africans especially to find their creative voices and pursue careers in the arts that can be looked upon with stigma.

Anthony is currently exploring a new medium-sculpting, which has allowed him to explore the concept of immortalisation and platforming. By focusing this aspect of his practice on representing various historical figures and facets of Nigerian culture, Anthony manages to celebrate revered elements of the Nigerian identity and showcase his home to the world, as he sees it through his eyes.

His art has been seen by millions around the world. He was the recipient of the Awele Trust Prize in 2017 and the Loose Convo grant in 2018. An author of 5 books and hundreds of stories and essays, he has prolific as he is skilled. His international clientele spans worldwide across companies and celebrities like Facebook (Meta), Rocket League, as well as artistes like, Masego, Jae5, Show Dem Camp, Adekunle Gold, Simi and Blaqbonez.

His artwork has been shown in Lagos, Abuja, London, New York, Tokyo, Denver and lives in countless homes, offices and restaurants across the world. He has been covered in publications like Yahoo Finance, Culture Custodian, Techpoint Africa and Olongo Africa, etc.

With the proceeds from his work, he has set up the Rosemary Fund, a grant for emerging artists in Nigeria. His painting, No Victor No Vanquished, is the first digital painting to be in the Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art, Nigeria.

Anthony Azekwoh Studios, his company, is the heart of Anthony's work, using art, literature, and tech to bring true and natural storytelling to an African and international audience.