I am a British/Nigerian visual artist, living and working in London, United Kingdom. A graduate of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. I have been active in the London art scene since the late 80s and have exhibited widely, with my work in private and public collections in over eight countries, including United Kingdom, Nigeria, Italy, Finland, US and Canada. My paintings are remarkable for their depths of expression, rich, and vibrant tapestry of color, and very rich in symbolism. Over the years, I have developed my own style, and signature, characterized by bold impasto effects, using palette knife and brush. Occasionally, I paint in cubistic style, covering a number of genres, such as the spiritual, mundane, and cultural.
I am a tour guide for both The Tate Britain and Tate Modern in London, where I specialize in African Heritage Tours. I have also been a consultant at the British Museum, where I was part of the team tasked with setting up the British Museum African Heritage Tours. I am a co-founder and Vice President of Nigeria Art Society UK (NASUK), a collective of highly talented artists of Nigerian heritage in the diaspora and I am also a staff and artist in residence at The Africa Centre.
ART EXHIBITIONS
SOLO ART EXHIBITIONS (Selected)
2024: Echoes of The Mind, The Africa Centre, London
2011: Viewpoint: Exhibition of Recent Works, WAC Gallery London
2007: Exhibition of recent works at the Waterloo Gallery
2006: Reload: an exhibition of recent paintings at Waterloo Gallery
2004: “Exhibition of Recent Paintings”, Waterloo Gallery London
1994: “Cymbals and Symbols” – an exhibition of recent paintings at the 198 Gallery, London.
1991: “Thoughts and Images” at the Nigerian High Commission in London.
1988: “Offspring of the Mind” at Nigerian Union of Journalists’ Press Centre, Enugu, Nigeria.
GROUP ART EXHIBITIONS (Selected)
2024: Combat Stress Secret Postcard Auction, London
2024: 1.54 Exhibition, Somerset House, London
2023: Combat Stress Secret Postcard Auction, Bankside Gallery, London
2021/2022: Nigeria Art Society UK – “Legacies of Biafra” Touring Exhibition-Gallery Oldham, Manchester
2021: Combat Stress Secret Postcard Auction, Bohnams London
2018: Nigeria Art Society UK – “Legacies of Biafra” Art Exhibition, The Brunei Gallery SOAS
2017: Nigeria Art Society UK – “Ariya” Art Exhibition, WAC Gallery, London
2016: Nigeria Art Society UK – “Aurora” Art Exhibition, WAC Gallery, London
2015: Nigeria Art Society UK – “Nigeria@100” Art Exhibition, WAC Gallery, London
2014: Nigeria Art Society UK – “NASUK Collective Inaugural Art Exhibition”, WAC Gallery, London
2009: Spring Art Exhibition – WAC Gallery, London.
2008: In Our Manor, Waterloo Gallery, London
2007: Space Open-Space Studios Vauxhall Street, London
2006: Art Exhibition with Hassan Aliyu, Waterloo Gallery London
2005: Battersea Contemporary Art Exhibition, London
2004: Nostalgia Gallery, Teddington Middlesex
2003: Space Studios Open 2003, London
2002: Paperleaf Arts Fair, Battersea, London.
2001: Battersea Contemporary Art Exhibition, London
2000: Paperleaf Arts Fair, Battersea, London.
1996: The Paragon Studios Open (Part of the WhiteChapel Open) London
1995: Art95-Business Design Centre, Islington, London
1994: International Cultural Festival, France.
1992: Exhibition of recent works, American Embassy, London
1991: A Grain of Wheat: Art Relief for Africa. Commonwealth Institute, London
1990: International Black Art Fair – Brixton, London
1990: International Contemporary Art Show Lithaby Gallery, London
1986: Nigerian-German Prints, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Lagos and Hamburg
Membership:
Nigeria Art Society (UK)
Artist in residence – The Africa Centre
BIBLIOGRAPHY (selected)
PRIMARY SOURCES
Azuonye C E. Narrowing of cultural
diversity. National Artists Association (NAA) Bulletin 1996; Vol. Spring issue: p.6.
Azuonye C E. “The Maiden”, in Oguibe et al (eds) The Anthill Annual. Nsukka: The Anthill Press, 1988.
Azuonye C E. Art and Artist: The Enugu Monuments. Nsukka: (unpublished degree thesis) Nigeria, 1987.
SECONDARY SOURCES
Nigeria Art Society UK (NASUK). Legacies of Biafra; 2018: pp 55,59, 74-75
Nigeria Art Society UK (NASUK). AURORA; 2016: pp 5-6
Nigeria Art Society UK (NASUK). ARIYA: A Celebration of colour; 2015: pp 7-8
Evening Standard 2014, Going Out: In Town this Weekend “The Consort;” October 17 issue: P.45
Nigeria Art Society UK (NASUK). Nigeria@100: Transforming a British Experiment; 2014: pp15-18
Nigeria Art Society UK (NASUK). Winter Exhibition (Inaugural) 2013: pp 4-5
Southwark News 2011, Viewpoint of an artist; November 17 issue: page 38
Tafari, D. Front-line, Art Matters. Artrage 1993; vol. March issue: p. 5
Kelly B, Stanley J. Nigerian Artists: A Who ‘s Who and Bibliography. Washington D.C: National Museum of African Art – Smithsonian Institution 1993.
Colman S. Talking Pictures. Girl About Town 1992; Vol. 1018: p. 6.
Sackey C. Contemporary Art at Gallery 198. West Africa 1992; Vol. 3920: P.1897.
Akakpo B. Thoughts and Images of Chike Azuonye. West Africa 1991; vol. 3855: p. 1265.
Biney A. African Artists Fair. West Africa 1990; vol. 3797: p. 961.
Nwankwo K. A Palette on the Mind. Daily Star 1988; vol. Sept. 10 issue: Centre spread.
Ezima V. Art, Offspring of the Mind. Daily Times 1988; vol. Sept. 17 issue: p. 5″
Thank you for visiting my website. Feel to explore the gallery section with paintings spanning several years and some recent additions. My work has been described as eclectic, providing the viewer a huge variety of styles and motifs
