BIOGRAPHY
Kelechi Nwaneri, a self-taught mixed-media artist, was born in 1994 in Nigeria and currently lives and works in Lagos, Nigeria. He focused on the sciences during his early schooling years and went on to obtain a Bachelors degree in Agricultural extension (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. @ courtesy of Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery & the artist
Solo exhibitions
- upcoming: at Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery Berlin (2023)
- Finding Balance at Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery London (2022)
- Through my Eyes at AKKA Project, Venice, Italy (2021)
- Myths at Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery Berlin (2021)
- Modern Marks at Ebony Curated, Cape Town, South Africa (2020)
Group exhibitions
- Unusual Suspects at the African Artists Foundation, Lagos, Nigeria (2021)
- In [the] Loop at EBONY/CURATED, Cape Town, South Africa (2021)
- Facing the Sun at Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, Schloss Görne, Germany (2021)
- Stop, listen! at CFHILL Art Space, Stockholm, Sweden (2021)
- Now's the Time: Eight African Painters at SCOPE Immersive Art Show (2020)
- All the Days and Nights at Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, London (2020)
- STASIS curated by SMO Contemporary Art Gallery at Temple Muse, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria (2019)
- SECRET GARDEN at ODA gallery, Franschhoek, South Africa (2019)
- Ode to mankind at Artyrama Gallery, Lagos, Nigeria (2018)
- Spanish Festivals and traditional celebration at Thought Pyramids Gallery, Abuja, Nigeria (2018)
Art Fairs
- Enter Art Fair 2022, Copenhagen, Denmark (with Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery)
- Art Dubai 2022 (with AKKA Project)
- Untitled, Art Miami Beach 2021 (with Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery)
- Art X Lagos 2021, Nigeria (with SMO Contemporary Art)
- Everything was beautiful and nothing hurt - group show at FNB Art Joburg Open City 2021, Johannesburg, South Africa
- 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair New York 2021 (with Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery)
- Art Dubai 2021 (with AKKA Project Dubai)
- Intersect Chicago online edition of SOFA Expo 2020, Chicago, USA (with EBONY/CURATED)
- 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair London 2020 (with Gallery 1957)
- 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair New York 2020 (with EBONY/CURATED)
- Latitude Art fair online 2020 (with EBONY/CURATED)
Museums & Biennials
- Museum of Contemporary Art MOCA Lagos, Nigeria
Kelechi Nwaneri is representend by Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery and Akka Project.
Instagram: @kaecyart
Works in Collection
"My work is born out of the desire to stir up conversations on issues around Social values, History, mental Health, and the subconscious interaction between man and his environment."
Kelechi Nwaneri
