Bruce Onobrakpeya is Nigeria's best-known printmaker and one of the last surviving members of the pioneering modernist generation. An Urhobo artist from Delta State, he trained at the Nigerian College of Arts, Science and Technology in Zaria from 1957 and was a member of the Zaria Art Society, the student group led by Uche Okeke that pushed for 'natural synthesis' of indigenous traditions and modern technique. He became famous for inventing and refining print and relief processes, especially deep etching, plastography and additive plastograph, plastocast reliefs and metal-foil works, which give his images a sculptural, textured surface. His imagery draws on Urhobo folklore, myths, Christian themes and Benin and Ife art, rendered in dense patterns and stylised figures, often in warm earth tones and gold or bronze foils. He taught art for years at St Gregory's College, Lagos, and through his foundation runs the annual Harmattan Workshop at Agbarha-Otor, which has trained many younger Nigerian artists. His work is in the British Museum, Tate Modern, the Metropolitan Museum, the V&A and the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art. Because he produced editioned prints, his market is broad, with prints selling modestly and large unique panels commanding much more.
School or movement: Zaria Art Society (Zaria Rebels); Nigerian modernism.
Influenced by Urhobo folklore and mythology, traditional African sculpture and decorative art, Benin and Ife art, Zaria Art Society / Uche Okeke's natural synthesis, Christian iconography.
Influenced Harmattan Workshop participants, many Nigerian printmakers.
