Bruce Onobrakpeya facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bruce Onobrakpeya NNOM
Onobrakpeya signing one of his art pieces Emetore, in his Ovuomaroro Studio
Born	(1932-08-30) 30 August 1932 (age 92) Agbara-Otor, Delta State, Nigeria
Nationality	Nigerian
Alma mater	Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
Known for	Printmaker, painter and sculptor
Movement	Modern Nigerian art and The Harmattan Workshop Group
Awards	Honorable Mention at 44th Venice Biennale, 2006 Human Living Treasure Award by UNESCO and 2010 National Creativity award by Federal Government of Nigeria. Honorary D.Litt from University of Ibadan 1989

Bruce Obomeyoma Onobrakpeya (born August 30, 1932) is a famous Nigerian artist. He is known for his amazing work as a printmaker, painter, and sculptor. His art has been shown in big museums around the world, like the Tate Modern in London and the National Museum of African Art in Washington, D.C. You can also find his colorful abstract paintings at the National Gallery of Modern Art, Lagos, in Nigeria.

Bruce Onobrakpeya's Early Life

Bruce Onobrakpeya was born in Agbara-Otor in Delta State, Nigeria. His father was a carver from the Urhobo community. Bruce grew up as a Christian but also learned about traditional local beliefs. When he was a child, his family moved to Benin City, Edo State.

He went to Western Boys High School, where he learned art from Edward Ivehivboje. He also took drawing classes at the British Council Art Club in Benin City. Bruce was very inspired by the beautiful watercolor paintings of Emmanuel Erabor. After high school, Bruce became an art teacher at Western Boys High School from 1953 to 1956. Then, he taught at Ondo Boys High School for a year.

Learning Art Formally

In 1957, Bruce Onobrakpeya was accepted into the Nigerian College of Arts, Science and Technology. This school is now known as Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria. He received a scholarship from the government to study art. Here, he learned the Western style of art, which focuses on making things look real.

At the same time, Bruce started to try out new art forms. He explored Nigerian folklore, myths, and legends in his work. Many of his pieces use styles and designs from traditional African sculptures and decorative arts.

The Zaria Rebels

On October 9, 1958, a group of art students at the college formed the Zaria Arts Society. They were later called the "Zaria Rebels." This group was led by Uche Okeke. Their goal was to "decolonize" art, meaning they wanted to teach art in a way that was more about Nigerian culture, not just European styles.

Bruce Onobrakpeya said that the college taught him technical skills. But the Zaria Arts Society, which was a discussion group, helped him become a professional artist. It gave him the confidence to find his own unique way of expressing himself through art. He started to make his figures longer, ignore traditional perspective, and use special decorations to show supernatural ideas.

Later Career and Workshops

After his formal education, Onobrakpeya attended many workshops. These workshops focused on printmaking in places like Ibadan, Oshogbo, Ife, and even in Maine, USA.

His first solo art show was in 1959 in Ughelli, in the Niger Delta. Later, he showed his art in many other countries, including the US, Italy, Zimbabwe, Germany, Britain, and Kenya. Bruce Onobrakpeya played a very important role in bringing new life to modern art in Nigeria. For many years, he also taught at St. Gregory's College, Lagos.

The Harmattan Workshop

Bruce Onobrakpeya started the Bruce Onobrakpeya Foundation in 1999. He is the president of this foundation. It organizes an annual art workshop called the Harmattan workshop in his hometown of Agbara Otor, Delta State.

This foundation is a non-governmental organization led by artists. Its main goal is to help art and culture grow. It gives artists chances to learn new skills. It also helps more people learn about African art and how it helps society. The foundation has organized many art shows and events.

Awards and Recognition

Bruce Onobrakpeya is one of the most successful artists from West Africa in the 20th century. He continues to inspire many Nigerian artists who grew up after Nigeria became independent.

Here are some of the awards and honors he has received:

• Honorary Doctor of Literature (D. Litt.) from the University of Ibadan in 1989.
• An honorable mention at the Venice Biennale, a very important art exhibition.
• A special fellowship from the Society of Nigerian Artists in 2000.
• The Pope John Paul II award for painting the life of Saint Paul.
• The Living Human Treasure Award in 2006, given by UNESCO. This award recognizes people who have special skills and knowledge.
• The second winner of Nigeria's important Nigerian Creativity Award in 2010.
• An honorary Doctor of Arts degree from the Delta State University in 2017.
• The Nigerian National Order of Merit (NNOM) in 2017. This is the highest award for excellent academic work in Nigeria.
• The U.S. Exchange Alumni Lifetime Achievement Award in 2024. This award recognized his big contributions to the cultural and art relationship between the U.S. and Nigeria.

Bruce Onobrakpeya's Artworks

Bruce Onobrakpeya has been creating art for over 50 years! His work can be divided into different periods, each with its own special style.

Art Periods and Styles

Mythical Realism (1957–1962)

This was his early period. He created paintings and lino-cut prints that showed themes from folklore and landscapes from Northern Nigeria. This was when Nigeria gained its independence, and artists wanted to show the "African personality" in their work. The Zaria Arts Society was formed during this time, promoting the idea of combining different art styles. Some works from this period include "Awhaire & the Bird" (painting) and "Zaria Indigo" (lino-cut print).

Sunshine Period (1962–1967)

In this period, Bruce experimented a lot in his workshops. He developed his "Bronzed lino relief" series. Popular works include "Leopard in a Cornfield" (lino print) and "Scarecrow" (silkscreen).

Mask and the Cross (1967–1978)

During this time, Bruce created many Christian-themed artworks for churches. Examples include "Nativity II" and "The Last Days of Christ." He also developed his "Plastography" technique, using ideas he started in the 1950s and 1960s. Works like "Travellers II" belong to this period.

Symbols of Ancestral Groves (1978–1984)

These artworks show historical figures, especially kings from the Benin Kingdom, like Oba Aka. Other works include "Eghrighri" and "Ibiebe and the tortoise."

Sahelian Masquerades (1984–1988)

These pieces were created to highlight the damage to the environment. They focused on cultures from the Sahel region and often had political messages. Works like "Horns Of Freedom" and "Edjo Aton" (principles of good governance) drew attention to how governments should deal with desertification.

Mask Series (1990–1995)

This series explored different masks using various print media. These artworks often talked about the idea of change and the philosophies of people. "Images I and II" are examples from this period.

Social Unrest (1995–1999)

This period reflects times of trouble in society. Bruce created large paintings that were like prayers for help against military rule and political problems. His drawings and pictures from this time focused on issues like the murder of Ken Saro Wiwa and other environmental and economic problems.

Installations Period (1995 – Present)

In this period, Bruce started creating "installations." These are artworks made by arranging different discarded materials. These installations aim to draw attention to the importance of protecting our environment. Examples include "Animals of Eve" and "Voices of Silenced Voices."

Artistic Innovations

Since 1966, Bruce Onobrakpeya has been an experimental artist. He has discovered and perfected several unique techniques in printmaking and relief sculpture that are truly Nigerian.

Printmaking is an art process where an artist creates pictures from a plate. The artist makes an image on a plate using different techniques. Then, the image is transferred onto paper or another surface by printing or embossing. The great thing about printmaking is that an artist can make many copies of the same artwork from one plate, sometimes even in different colors. Bruce Onobrakpeya has greatly increased the number of techniques available.

Bronzed Lino Relief

This technique uses old lino blocks (which are like stamps) and gives them a bronze color. Bruce developed this in 1966 to save used blocks that already looked like sculptures.

Plastocast Relief

This is a painted low-relief design made with resin. It started as an idea from the bronzed lino relief. Bruce found a way to make new original plates from old ones using plaster of Paris. Sometimes, small plates with similar themes are put together to form a bigger picture.

Plastograph

Bruce gave this name to his deep etching technique, which he invented in 1967. He discovered it by accident using hydrochloric acid! It involves engraving on a low-relief surface, like zinc, and then printing it in a special way.

Additive Plastograph

This technique involves making prints on sandpaper using glue to draw. The glue is stuck to the sandpaper with strong sunlight. Ink is then applied, and the excess is wiped off. The image is then pressed onto paper and later painted with oil pastels.

Metal Foil Deep Etching

This is a plastograph print where thin aluminum foil is used to draw the engraved images. The foil is placed on an engraved plate, then removed, filled with resin to make it strong, and attached to plywood. Bruce started experimenting with foils in the 1980s.

Metal Foil Relief Print

This is a 3D metal foil print made on a plastocast plate. A thicker foil is placed over a plate and pressed by hand to transfer the picture's shape. The foil is then filled from behind and attached to plywood, then colored.

Ivorex

This is a new technique Bruce recently developed. It makes art look like old ivory engravings found on bone or elephant tusks. However, he uses a modern material called polymer.

Ibiebe Alphabets and Ideograms

Ibiebe is a unique writing style created by Bruce Onobrakpeya. It uses his own invented script of geometric and curvy symbols. These designs show his deep knowledge of his Urhobo heritage, which is rich in symbols and proverbs. They also show his appreciation for Chinese, Japanese, Ghanaian, and Nigerian calligraphy.

Bruce invented and improved this "Ibiebe" script from 1978 to 1986. During this time, he revisited ideas from traditional religion, customs, and history in his art. Ibiebe symbols aim to capture universal ideas and timeless values. The artist clearly loves the look and feel of the script, as well as its power to communicate. These Ibiebe symbols are often abstract, and they can be presented in calligraphy, paintings, and sculptures.

Where to Find His Work

Public Collections Holding His Work

Many museums and institutions around the world have Bruce Onobrakpeya's art. Here are some of them:

• University of Lagos Library, Lagos, Nigeria
• National Gallery of Modern Art, Lagos, Nigeria
• Museum of African and African-American Art and Antiquities, New York, USA
• Vatican Museum, Rome, Italy
• National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., USA
• Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Nigeria
• Victoria and Albert Museum, London, UK
• The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA
• Minneapolis Institute of Arts, USA
• The British Museum, London, UK
• Tate Modern, London, UK

Book Illustrations

Bruce Onobrakpeya has also illustrated many books, including:

• No Longer At Ease by Chinua Achebe
• An African Night’s Entertainment by Cyprian Ekwensi
• Sugar Girl by Kola Onadipe
• Akpan and the Smugglers by Rosemary Uwemedimo
• A Forest of a Thousand Demons by Soyinka and Fagunwa

Films and Documentaries

Several films and documentaries have been made about Bruce Onobrakpeya and his art:

• Kindreds Spirits: Contemporary Nigerian Artists (Smithsonian World)
• The Magic of Nigeria directed by Ola Balogun
• Recalling the Future Art by Joanna Grabski
• The Harmattan Workshop Experience: The Journey so far (produced and directed by Onobrakpeya himself)
• RedHot directed by Sandra Obiago