Kelechi Nwaneri
Kelechi Charles Nwaneri (b.1994, Nigeria) is a self-taught mixed-media artist. He currently lives and works in Lagos state, Nigeria. He focused on the sciences during his early schooling years and went on to obtain a Bachelor's degree in Agricultural extension from the University of Nigeria in 2015. Inspired by Pencil Artists such as Kelvin Okafor, Arinze Stanley and Ken Nwadiogbu, he initially focused on Pencil Realism and has evolved to introducing other mediums such as acrylic paints, collages, watercolors and oil paints. Kelechi focuses on discussing issues around Mental health, psychology and Social Values with his work (although his scope of discussions is not limited to these issues). Inspired by events happening in his environment, he creates art with surrealistic imagery that is most times allegorical to real cases experienced by individuals in situations within the scope of discussions. The use of indigenous (include mainly Adinkra, Uli, Nsibidi symbols) and sometimes foreign symbols, mystical, metaphysical and allegorical imagery in relaying messages is a major characteristic of his style of work. Kelechi is the most recent winner of the annual “Visual Art competition 2018” organized by the Spanish embassy in Abuja, Nigeria and has participated in a number of group shows within Nigeria. He was in 2020 in residency for AKKA Project in Venice, Italy. His work is held in the Beth Rudin DeWoody Collection (USA), Susan Goodman Collection (USA), Arthur Lewis Collection (USA), Easton Capital Collection (USA).