SoNo Fine Art

South Norwalk gallery that focuses on one of a kind artwork from international contemporary artists.

Onyeka Ibe

Onyeka Ibe (pronounced ebay) was born in Anambra State, Nigeria on September 29th, 1971.  Encouraged by his father, a painter himself, Ibe was introduced to drawing as a child.  He achieved early success when he exhibited his works at the National Gallery of Modern Art in Lagos at age 16.  The judges, doubting that someone of his age could really have painted the works himself, required him to do a live demonstration.Upon proving his ability, the artist was awarded a full scholarship to high school, followed by an education in fine arts from the University of Benin in Nigeria, from which he graduated with highest honors.  His first visit to the U.S. in 1998 was sponsored by Ebony Magazine and Magic Johnson’s “Mid Summer Night Magic,” a charity event for indigent African American Students.  After visiting American galleries and exhibiting some of his work in this country, the artist decided to move full time to the U.S. and to pursue his education at Georgia State University in Atlanta.
Ibe has traveled extensively throughout the U.S., South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa to show his works, participating as well in seminars and fine arts workshops.  His work has been recognized nationally and internationally through numerous awards in juried shows and competitions and has been featured in major art publications, museums, private collections, and galleries around the world.  In 2002, the Atlanta Journal Constitution described the artist as one of the most exciting young painters to emerge from Sub-Saharan Africa since the 1990’s and in 2006, Ibe was awarded “Best Solo Artist of the Year” at ArtExpo New York.
His abstract landscapes and evocative figurative paintings in oil are filled with rich colors and impasto texture.  When asked to describe what motivates him, Ibe says “The beauty I see in every existence is my inspiration to paint.  Painting is the only way that I can express myself.  I work toward creating paintings that tell stories of beauty, and believe that the power of nature and beauty is enough to humble any human being.”

SELECTED COLLECTIONS: 
Museum of  Cont. Art, Atl., GA
Harbour Gallery, Ont. Canada
Huff Harington Fine Arts, GA
Saatchi Gallery, NY
Avisca Fine Art, GA		 GALLERIES  
Galerie Sono, CT
Chasen Galleries, VA Seaside Gallery, CA
Thornwood Gallery, TX
Addison Gallery, FL		 SELECTED PUBs: 
Art World News 2007
American Art Coll. 2007
Atlanta Journal
Constitution 2007
Gallery One, TN
Art Business News 2006