Victor Ehikhamenor (b. 1970) is a Nigerian multimedia artist, photographer and writer whose work is often motivated by the aesthetic and spiritual traditions which infused his upbringing in the small village of Udomi- Uwessan, Edo State. By combining religious symbolism with gestural abstraction, Ehikhamenor’s signature patterning– seen from his paintings to photographs to immersive installations– creates both a hypnotic and meditative experience for viewers. Ehikhamenor received his BA in English and Literature from Ambrose Alli University, Nigeria in 1991, and his master’s degree in technology management from the University of Maryland in 2003, as well as an MFA in 2008. He has received various awards for both his art and his writing from organizations such as the Rockefeller Foundation (USA, 2016), the Nirox Foundation (South Africa,2016) and the Norman Mailer Center (USA, 2014), and currently works between Lagos, Nigeria and Maryland, USA. He was one of four artists chosen to exhibit as part of the first Nigerian Pavilion at the 57th Venice Biennale in 2017. His work has also been included in other Biennales including 5th Mediations Biennale in Poznan, Poland (2016), the 12th Dak’art Biennale in Dakar, Senegal (2016), Biennale Jogja XIII, Indonesia (2015), as well as being shown at the 56th Venice Biennale as part of the German Pavilion (2015). In 2022, Victor Ehikhamenor was commissioned a piece for 50 Monuments in 50 Voices, 2022 for St Paul’s Cathedral,UK. His contribution was then acquired by the Pitt Rivers Museum, Oxford.
Solo exhibitions include ‘Still Standing’,50 Monuments in 50 Voices, St Paul’s Cathedral, London, UK (2022); Cartographers of Dreams, Art Dubai Art Fair, Dubai, UAE (2018); In the Kingdom of This World, Tyburn Gallery, London, UK (2017); Paperwork: Works on paper, Constant Capital Gallery, Lagos, Nigeria (2015); Chronicles Of The Enchanted World, Gallery of African Art, London, UK (2014); In The Lion’s Lair: Photographing Wole Soyinka, Ake Arts and Books Festival, Abeokuta, Nigeria (2014); Amusing The Muse, Temple Muse, Lagos, Nigeria (2013); Crossing the Line, Bloom Gallery, Lagos, Nigeria (2012); Entrances & Exits: In search of not forgetting, CCA, Lagos, Nigeria (2011); Artist Experience, Whitespace, Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria (2011); Mirrors and Mirages, Terra Kulture Gallery, Lagos, Nigeria (2009); Invasion of Privacy, Jennings Gallery, Washington, D.C., USA (2008); Labyrinth of Memories, Didi Museum, Lagos, Nigeria (2007); Beyond The River, Grenada Embassy, Washington, D.C., USA (2006); Body Language, Utopia Art/Grill, Washington, D.C., USA (2005); Divine Intervention, Howard University A J Blackburn Center Gallery, Washington, D.C., USA (2005); Talking Walls, BB&T Bank, NW Washington, D.C., USA (2005); Songs and Stories: Moonlight Delight, Utopia Gallery, Washington, D.C., USA (2004); Discovering the gods, Monroe Gallery, Arts Club of Washington, Washington, D.C., USA (2001); Spirits In Dialogue, The Brazilian-American Cultural Institute Gallery, Washington, D.C., USA (2000).
Group exhibitions include FILAM(A)NT, Fondation Blachère, Apt, France. (forthcoming) (2019); Soundlines of Contemporary Art: International Exhibition of Contemporary Art in Armenia, Yerevan, Armenia (2018); Whose Land Have I Lit on Now?, SAVVY Contemporary, Berlin, Germany (2018); UNTITLED, TyburnGallery, London, UK (2017); Lines, Motions and Ritual, Magnan Metz, New York, USA (2017); Nigerian Pavilion, 57th Venice Biennale, Venice, Italy (2017); Significations, Provincial Centre of Arts and Design, Havana, Cuba (2017); 5th Mediations Biennale, Poznan, Poland (2016); error x, Ostrale Contemporary Art Festival, Dresden, Germany (2016); 12th Dak’Art Biennale, Dakar; Senegal (2016); A Place in Time, Nirox Foundation Sculpture Park, Johannesburg, South Africa (2016); Displacement, German Pavilion, 56thVenice Biennale, Venice, Italy (2015); Biennale Jogja XIII, Equator #3 2015, Indonesia (2015); ARENA, Center of Contemporary Art, Torun, Poland (2014); Nigeria Now, Ake Arts & Book Festival World Bank Exhibition, Nigeria (2013); Post-colonial photo studio, Action Field Kodra, Thessaloniki, Greece (2012); Black Creativity, Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago, IL, USA (2008); Rhythms & Blues, Sarah Silberman Gallery, Montgomery College, MD, USA (2007); Memories: 2Griot, Joy Smith Gallery, Memphis, TN, USA (2004); Symbols and Metaphors, Underwood Studio, Chevy Chase, MD, USA (2003); Home of African Concepts Gallery, Kent, WA, USA (2002); Patuxent Art League Members Juried Show, Laurel, MD, USA (2001); Same Tree, Different Roots, Howard University AJ Blackburn Center Gallery, Washington, D.C., USA (2001); National Geographic Society Staff Show, Washington D.C., USA (1999).
Highlights and Collections
Ehikhamenor’s work can be found in international private and public collections, including Nirox Sculpture Park, Cradle Of Humankind, (South Africa), Ventures Park, (Abuja, Nigeria), American Embassy, (Abuja, Nigeria), Access Bank, (Lagos, Nigeria), Keystone Bank, (Lagos Nigeria), Aluko and Oyebode Law Firm, (Lagos, Nigeria), Humboldt Forum (Germany), Pitt Rivers Museum (UK), High Museum of Art (USA).
Ehikhamenor’s work can be found in international private and public collections, including Nirox Sculpture Park, Cradle Of Humankind, (South Africa), Ventures Park, (Abuja, Nigeria), American Embassy, (Abuja, Nigeria), Access Bank, (Lagos, Nigeria), Keystone Bank, (Lagos Nigeria), Aluko and Oyebode Law Firm, (Lagos, Nigeria), Humboldt Forum (Germany), Pitt Rivers Museum (UK), High Museum of Art (USA).