EGONU, Uzo

Graphic Artist, Illustrator, Painter, Printmaker Address: 32 Coniston Gardens, South Kenton, Wembley, Middlesex HA9 8SD, England. Birth: December 25, 1931, in Onitsha, Anambra State. Training: Tutored by Mr. Okechuku, Teachers' Training College, Onitsha; Camberwell School of Arts & Crafts, London, 1949-1952; traveled and studied in Europe, 1952-1960; worked with an Italian painter in Rome, Italy. Profile: Freelance artist; Licentiate, Society of Industrial Artists and Designers, London, 1968-1979; member, Lagos FESTAC Committee, 1973; juror, International Poster Competition, UNESCO, Paris, 1981; illustrated books for Ginn & Co., Heinemann Educational Books, Oxford University Press, and Thomas Nelson; his art has been extensively reviewed in the British, German and Nigerian press. Member: Royal Society of Arts, London. Solo Exhibitions Woodstock Gallery, London, September 28-October 17, 1964. "Exhibition of Paintings by Uzo Egonu," Atelier Vincitore, Brighton, England, April 22-May 6, 1966. "Paintings, Gouaches, Drawings and Sculptures," Upper Grosvenor Galleries, London, September 6-24, 1966. Leicester University Arts Festival, Phoenix Theatre, Leicester, England, January 1967. "Ezo Egonu: The World in Perspective," Upper Grosvenor Galleries, London, July 16-August 1, 1968. Commonwealth Institute, Edinburgh, Scotland, November 8-19, 1968. aintings and Prints," George Room Gallery, Stroud, England, November 14-28, 1970. Gallery Africa, Nairobi, Kenya, 1971. Afro-Centrum Agisymba, Berlin, Germany, October 17-November 30, 1972. Commonwealth Institute Art Gallery, London, May 24-June 17, 1973. University of Lancaster, Lancaster, England, 1974. "Work by the Nigerian Artist Uzo Egonu," St. Paul's School Art Gallery, London, October 1-19, 1979. Liberales Zentrum Art Gallery, Cologne, Germany, January 1980. "An Exhibition of Art by Uzo Egonu: Prints, Drawings and Gouaches," Bhownagree Gallery, Commonwealth Institute, London, August 11-September 3, 1982. Westbourne Gallery, London, 1983. Galerie Neue Horizonte, Frankfurt, Germany, 1985. "Exhibition of Prints, Etchings, ScreenPrints, Lithographs by Uzo Egonu," Ana Gallery, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, January 17-26, 1985. "Stateless People," Royal Festival Hall, London, January 4-20, 1986; Black-Art Gallery, London, January 8-February 1, 1986; People's Gallery, London, February 5-28, 1986. Civic Centre, Exhibition Area, Harrow, England, 1986. Group Exhibitions Pan African Art Council Exhibition, London, 1962. Free Painters Group, F. B. A. Gallery, London, 1963. "Winter Salon," Royal Institute Galleries, London, 1963. Commonwealth Arts Festival, Royal Festival Hall, London, 1965. "The FirstGemini Exhibition," Woodstock Gallery, London, February 8-27, 1965. "Contemporary African Art," National Museum of Wales, Cardiff, September 16- October 2, 1965. Camden Arts Centre, London, 1966. First World Festival of Negro Arts Exhibition, Dakar, Senegal, 1966. Hampstead Artists Council Members' Annual Exhibition, Hampstead Arts Centre, London, 1966. Summer and Winter Exhibitions, Upper Grosvenor Galleries, London, 1966. Commonwealth Institute Art Gallery, Edinburgh, Scotland, 1968. "Contemporary African Arts," Africa Centre, London, August 5-13, 1968. Free Painters Group, F. B. A. Gallery, London, 1968. George Room Gallery, Stroud Festival, Stroud, England, 1968. High Wycombe Arts Festival Exhibition, High Wycombe, England, 1968. "Modem Art by the Free Painters and Sculptors," Bath Festival Exhibition, Victoria Art Gallery, Bath, England, 1968. "Modern Art by the Free Painters and Sculptors," Bristol City Art Gallery, Bristol, England, 1968. "Trends-1968," F. B. A. Gallery, London, 1968. "Inter Fauna," International Exhibition of the Animal World, Dusseldorf, Germany, March 29-April 1, 1968. "Artists of Eight Commonwealth Countries," Royal Commonwealth Society Centenary Exhibition, City Art Gallery, Bristol, England, May 1-15, 1968. "Artists for Czechoslovakia," Camden Arts Centre, London, October 18-30, 1968. Free Painters Group, F. B. A. Gallery, London, 1969. Galerie Jules Salles, Nimes, France, 1969. "Contemporary African Art," Camden Arts Centre, London, August 10-September 6, 1969. "Africa Responds," Munich, Germany, 1970-1971. BBCWorld Service for Africa, The Morning Show Art Competition, Bush House, London, 1970. Brentwood Festival, Brentwood, England, 1970. The Guildhall, London, 1970. "Contemporary African Art," Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland, February 14-March 7, 1970. British Week in Austria, Linz, Austria, 1971. "Italia 2000," Naples, Italy, 1971. Gallery Africa, Nairobi, Kenya, January 1971. Machette Gallery, London, 1971. "Three Contemporary African Artists," Dorchester Hotel and United States House, London, 1971. "Hower Painters of the World," Augustine Gallery, Holt, Norfolk, England, April 10-May 12, 1971. "Paintings and Sculpture of Today 1971," Augustine Gallery, Holt, Norfolk, England, August 7-September 14, 1971. Camden Arts Centre, London, 1972. "Contemporary African Art Exhibition; Third Summer Exhibition," Africa Centre, London, 1972. "Ibizagraphic 72," Museo de Arte Contemporeaneo de Ibiza, Ibiza, Spain, 1972. "Internationale Grafik Biennale 1972," Frechen, Germany, 1972. Printmakers Council Print Exhibition, Oxford University Press, London, 1972. "Inter-72," International Art Exhibition, Holstebro, Denmark, July 3-31, 1972. Third British International Print Biennial, Bradford City Art Galleries and Museums, Bradford, England, July-September 1972. Art ExhibiHon, US Army, Berlin, 1973. BBC, London, 1973. Bluecoat Gallery, Liverpool, England, 1973. Commonwealth InsHtute Art Gallery, London, 1973. "Tenth Anniversary ExhibiHon of Contemporary African Art," Africa Centre, London, 1973. Premio Internationale Biella per L'Incisione, Biella, Italy, November-December 1973. "Biennale Internacional de Obra Grafica y Arte Seriado," Segovia, Spain, 1974. "ExhibiHon of Painfings by Uzo Egonu, Prafulla Mohanti, Osman Wagialla," University of Lancaster, Lancaster, England, 1974. "Ibizagrafic 74," Museo de Arte Contemporaneo de Ibiza, Ibiza, Spain, 1974. Morley Gallery, London, 1974. "African Prints: An ExhibiHon of Contemporary African Art," Kresge Art Gallery, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA, June 15-July 7, 1974. Fourth BriHsh InternaHonal Print Biennial, Bradford City Art Galleries and Museums, Bradford, England, July-September 1974. International Graphic Biennial, Krakow, Poland, 1974. International Print Biennial, Fredrikstad, Norway, 1974. "Internationale Grafik Biennale 1974," Frechen, Germany, September 8-October 6, 1974. "African Fine Art Then and Now," Royal Commonwealth Society, London, 1975. "Selection of the Biennial of Segovia," [traveling exhibition], Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia and Seville, Spain, 1975. Three Dimension Gallery, Berkeley, California, USA, 1975. International Biennial of Graphic Art, Ljubljana, Yugoslavia, June 6-August 31, 1975. International Graphic Biennial, Krakow, Poland, 1976. "Intergrafik 76," Katowice, Poland, 1976. "Internationale Grafik Biennale 1976," Frechen, Germany, October 24-November 21, 1976. Third Norwegian International Print Biennial, Fredrikstad, Norway, 1976. FESTAC '77, Lagos, 1977. Internationale Buchkunst-Ausstellung, Leipzig, Germany, 1977. International Biennial of Graphic Art, Ljubljana, Yugoslavia, May 13-August 31, 1977. "Contemporary African Art," Maison de Culture, Reims, France, 1978. Edinburgh Festival, Edinburgh, Scotland, 1978. Fourth Norwegian International Print Biennial, Fredrikstad, Norway, 1978. International Exhibition of Original Drawings, Museum of Modem Art, Rijeka, Yugoslavia, 1978. "Now drawing is. . .," International Drawing Exhibition, Imabashi Gallery and Marronnier Gallery, Kyoto, and Utubo Gallery, Osaka, Japan, 1978-1979. St. Paul's School Art Gallery, London, 1979. Sixth British International Print Biennial, Bradford City Art Galleries and Museums, Bradford, England, May 20-July 22, 1979. International Biennial of Graphic Art, Ljubljana, Yugoslavia, June 8-September 15, 1979. Printmakers Council of Great Britain, Arts Centre Gallery, University of Wales, Aberystwyth, Wales, October 6-27, 1979; Oriel Theatre Clwyd, Mold, Wales, December 11, 1979-January 7, 1980; Swansea Arts Workshop, Swansea, Wales, January 14-February 2, 1980. National Exhibition of Modem British Prints, Grundy Art Gallery, Blackpool, England, 1979. International Graphic Biennial, Krakow, Poland, 1980. Fifth Norwegian International Print Biennale, Fredrikstad, Norway, 1980. "Intergrafik 80," Eighth International Graphic Biennial, Katowice, Poland, 1980. International Book Fair, Frankfurt, Germany, 1980. Liberales Zentrum, Cologne, Germany, 1980. Seventh International Exhibition of Original Drawings, Museum of Modem Art, Rijeka, Yugoslavia, 1980. Third World Biennial of Graphic Art, Iraqi Cultural Centre, London, June 18-July 12, 1980; Baghdad, Iraq, September 23-October 23, 1980. Listowel Second International Print Biennial, St. Patrick's Hall, Listowel, County Kerry, Ireland, July 1-August 31, 1980. International Biennial of Portrait Graphics and Drawings, Tuzla, Yugoslavia, August 1-September 15, 1980. "National Art Exhibition" National Theatre, Lagos, September 25-October 1, 1980. "Afrikanische Kunst Heute," Galerie Exler, Frankfurt, Germany, October 8-November 30, 1980. "Internationale Grafik Biennale 1980," Frechen, Germany, October 12-November 30, 1980. Dixon Gallery, London, 1981. Galeria Rysunku, Poznan, Poland, 1981. International Biennial of Graphic Art, Ljubljana, Yugoslavia, June 12-September 15, 1981. Second National Exhibition of Modern British Prints, Grundy Art Gallery, Blackpool, England, 1981. "Inter-81," 14th International Art Exhibition, Holstebro, Denmark, July 17- September 5, 1981. Third Seoul International Print Bienniel, National Museum of Modem Art, Seoul, Korea, August 1-10, 1981. "Dealer's Choice: An Exhibition of Contemporary Original Prints," Artefact, London, September 3-28, 1981. International Exhibition of Original Drawings, Museum of Modem Art, Rijeka, Yugoslavia, 1982. Ninth International Triennial of Original Coloured Graphic Prints, Grenchen, Switzerland, 1982. Sixth Norwegian International Print Biennial, Fredrikstad, Norway, 1982. Westbourne Gallery, London, 1982. Drawings, Prints & Watercolours: Okike Tenth Anniversary," University of Nigeria, Nsukka, April 1982. "Artists Against Apartheid," Seven Dials Gallery, London, May 24-29, 1982. International Biennial of Graphic Art, Ljubljana, Yugoslavia, 1983. Fourth Seoul International Print Biennial, National Museum of Modem Art, Seoul, Korea, 1983. "Recent Works from England," October Gallery, St. Helena, California, USA, May 3-July 9, 1983. "World Print Four; an International Survey," San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, San Francisco, USA, October 5-December 18, 1983. [traveled in the USA through 1985 to Tacoma, Washington; Anchorage, Alaska; Ft. Myers, Florida; Long Beach, California; Hattiesburg, Mississippi; El Paso, Texas; and Toledo, Ohio]. "International Grafik Triennale 1983," Frechen, Germany, October 9-November 20, 1983. "Into the Open: New Paintings, Prints and Sculpture by Black Artists," Mappin Art Gallery, Sheffield, England; Castle Museum, Nottingham, England; Newcastle Workshops, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England, 1984. "Inter-Grafik 84," Berlin, Germany, 1984. International Exhibition of Original Drawings, Museum of Modern Art, Rijeka, Yugoslavia, 1984. Norwegian International Print Biennial, Fredrikstad, Norway, 1984. Tenth International Print Biennial, Krakow, Poland, 1984. "Silver Jubilee National Art Exhibition," National Theatre, Lagos; Federal University of Technology, Owerri, September 26-October 1, 1985. "Man in Focus," National Theatre, Lagos, December 20, 1985-January 10, 1986. Black-Art Gallery, London, January-February 1986. "Stateless People," Royal Festival Hall, London, 1986. "The Other Story: Afro-Asian Artists in Post-war Britain," Hayward Gallery, London, November 29, 1989-February 4, 1990; Wolverhampton Art Gallery, Wolverhampton, England, March 10-April 22, 1990; City Art Gallery and Cornerhouse, Manchester, England, May 5-June 10, 1990. "Let the Canvas Come to Life with Dark Faces," Herbert Art Gallery and Museum, Coventry, England, April 14-May 29, 1990; South London Art Gallery, London, July 13, August 16, 1990; BluecoatGallery, Liverpool, England, October 6-November 9, 1990. Commissions Oil painting, "Independence Day," Nigerian High Commission, London, 1961. Oil painting, "Market Scene," Whitbread and Company, London, 1961. Textile designs, Stevenson & Sons, London, 1968. Textile designs, Story (Fabrics), London, 1968. Textile designs, Heal Fabrics, London, 1969. Textile designs, Sundour Fabrics, Carlisle, Cumberland, England, 1970, Textile designs, Boynett & Company, London, 1970. Graphics, Gorner &Millard Gallery, London. Writings by the Artist Lithographs: Once Upon a Time in Ibo-Land: Original Short Story. [London]: Uzo Egonu, 1971. [unpaged], illus. "The Culture of Nri and Igbo-Ukwu," West Africa (London) no. 3403; 2786-2787, October 25, 1982. illus. "African Art: Its Impact on the West," Arts Review (London) 36 (21): 558, November 9, 1984. illus. Awards & Honors First prize, junior All-Nigeria School Art Competition, 1944; first prize, oil painting, BBC Morning Show Art Competition, London, 1970; bronze medal, graphics, Les Arts en Europe," Brussels, Belgium, 1971;Cup of the City of Caserta for oil painting, "Italia 2000," Naples, Italy, 1972; second prize for oil painting, "African Arts," University of California, Los Angeles, USA, 1972;UNESCO prize, UNESCO International Poster Competition, Paris, France, 1976; Purchase Prize, 13th International Biennial of Graphic Art, Ljubljana, Yugoslavia, 1979; honourable mention, Third World Biennial of Graphic Art 1980, London and Baghdad, 1980; Honorary Counsellor-For-Life, International Association of Art, UNESCO, Paris, France, 1983; medal, Tenth International Print Biennial, Krakow, Poland, 1984; Fellow, Asele Institute, Nimo, 1985. Public Collections Africa Centre, London. Etching: "Peace Offering to Man and the Gods," 1971. Arts Council of Great Britain. Oil on canvas: "A New Lease of Life (1st)," 1988. Bradford City Art Gallery and Museum, Arts Council Collection, Bradford, England. Screenprint, artist's proof: "Lone Eater," 1979. Centre for Black & African Arts & Civilization, Lagos. Oil on canvas: "Enchanted by the Sunset," 1973. Commonwealth Institute, Edinburgh, Scotland. Gouache on paper: "A Woman Lamenting Over a Dead Soldier," 1966. Fylde Arts Association, Modem British Prints, Blackpool, England. Screenprint, artist's proof: "Hute Player Resting," 1979. Gorner and Millard Gallery, London. Etchings & lithographs, 1974-1978. Inner London Education Authority, London. Screenprint: "Flute Player Resting," 1979. International Centre for Public-Owned Enterprises in Developing Countries, Ljubljana, Yugoslavia. Screenprint: "Lone Eater," 1979. Jacob Kramer College, Leeds Education Authority, Leeds, England. Screenprint, artist's proof: "A Cup of Coffee in Solitude," 1981. National Council for Arts & Culture, Lagos. Etching: "Sacrifice to the Earth Goddess," 1974; lithograph: "Sacrificial Cocks," 1974. National Gallery of Modem Art, Lagos. Oil paintings: "Priestess of the Shrine of the God of Lightning & Thunder," 1978, "Mother & Child Before a Shrine," 1977, and "Priestess of the Shrine of the River Goddess," 1978. National Museum of Modern Art, Baghdad, Iraq. Screenprints: "Lone Eater," and "Hute Player Resting," 1979, and "Mending," 1980. Muszeum Narodowe w Poznaniu Poznan, Poland. Lithograph, artist's proof: "Sacrificial Cocks," 1974. Nigerian High Commission, London. Gouache on paper: "Consolation," 1966. Overseas Newspapers (Daily Mirror Group), London. Oil on canvas: 'Three Ages of Man," 1960. Spencer, Stuart and Associates, London. Gouacheon paper: 'Trafalgar Square," 1967. United Africa Company International, London. Gouache on paper: "Cocks," 1973. Victoria & Albert Museum, London. Etching, artisfs proof: "Sacrifice to the Earth Goddess," 1974. Bibliography "Artist from Onitsha," West African Review (London) April 1960, pp. 21-24. illus. Moody, Ronald. "Painting: Uzo Egonu," Magnet News [London?] no. 5, April 10-23, 1965. illus. Leicester University Arts Festival; [exhibition held at the Phoenix Theatre, Leicester, January 1967. Leicester: Leicester University], 1967. The World in Perspective; [exhibition of oils, gouaches and sculpture, held at Upper Grosvenor Galleries, London, July 16-August 1, 1968. London: Upper Grosvenor Galleries], 1968. [unpaged], illus. Egonu, Uzo. Lithographs: Once Upon a Time in Ibo-Land: Original Short Story. [London]: Uzo Egonu, 1971. [unpaged], illus. "African Painting at the BBC," African Arts (Los Angeles) 4 (3): 73, spring 1971. illus. Egonu, Uzo. [Letter to the editor]. African Arts (Los Angeles) 4 (4): 2, summer 1971. Bennett, George. "BBC Art Competition 1970," African Arts (Los Angeles) 5 (1): 36- 39, autumn 1971. illus. (color). "Nigerian Artist Now Lives in South Kenton," Wembley News (Wembley) October 29, 1971. Uzo Egonu, Nigeria, Contemporary Art from Africa; [exhibition held at the Afro- Centrum Agisymba, Berlin, Germany, October 17-November30, 1972. Berlin: Afro-Centrum Agisymba, 1972]. Reviewed: Wolfgang Kahlcke, "Afrikanisches in Berlin: Uzo Egonu in Afro-Zentrum" Die Welt (Berlin) October 19, 1972; "Nigerianischer Maler Verlebt Seinen Festurlaub in Bedburg," Kblnische Rundschau (Cologne) December 29, 1972. "The Vision of Egonu," West Africa (London) no. 2922, June 11, 1973. Jegede, Emmanuel. "TheModem African Artist Who is Still Loyal to Tradition," West Indian World (London) June 15, 1973. Adekeye, Adeyemi. "Uzo Egonu of Nigeria," African Arts (Los Angeles) 7 (1): 34- 37, autumn 1973. illus. (some color). "1972 Prizewinners: Uzo Egonu," African Arts (Los Angeles) 6 (2): 11-12, winter 1973. illus. (color). FESTAC '77: The Work of the Artists from the United Kingdom and Ireland; [exhibition held in Lagos, 1977] / introduction by Yinka Odunlami. London: Exhibition Subcommittee, United Kingdom African Festival Committee, [1977]. 30pp. illus. Tialobi, Gordon. "How Uzo Egonu, Nigeria's Best Known Artist in Europe Earns His Living," The Punch (Lagos) May 13, 1978. Ajokpaezi, Oseha. Uzo Egonu: ANigerian Painter in Britain. Nsukka: University of Nigeria, June 1979. BA thesis in Fine&Applied Arts, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. [unpublished]. Kinder, Guy. Uzo Egonu: A Study ofthe Artistic Evolution ofa Nigerian Painter Living and Working in Contemporary Europe. Dissertation, Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art, [England], May 1981. [unpublished]. Artists Against Apartheid; [exhibition held at the Seven Dials Gallery, London, May 24-29, 1982. London: Seven Dials Gallery, 1982]. Bender, Wolfgang. "African Art Today," [review of an exhibition at the Galerie Exler, Frankfurt, Germany, October 1980]. African Arts (Los Angeles) 15 (2): 74, February 1982. Ebele, Alex. "Black Living Picasso," West Africa (London) no. 3391: 1988, August 2, 1982. illus. (color) + front cover, port. Okike (Nsukka) no. 22, September 1982. [illus. only]. World Print Four: An International Survey; [exhibition organized in cooperation with the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, California College of Arts and Crafts, USA, and Osaka University of Arts, Japan, 1983]. San Francisco: San Francisco World Print Council, 1983. 108pp. illus. "Wahl der Titelgrafik Uberraschte Uzo Egonu," Kblner Stadt-Anzeiger (Cologne) no. 237, October 12, 1983. Into the Open: New Paintings, Prints and Sculpture by Contemporary Black Artists; [exhibition held at the Sheffield Arts Department, Sheffield, England, 1984]. Sheffield: Sheffield Arts Department, 1984. [12]pp. illus. Egonu, Uzo. Photocopies of exhibition catalogues, newspaper clippings and 50 color slides ofpaintings and prints I compiled and assembled by the artist. Wembley, England: Egonu, 1984. 1 portfolio (187 pieces), illus. [unpublished; copy available in the National Museum of African Art Library]. Exhibition of Prints, Etchings, Screen Prints, Lithographs by Uzo Egonu; [exhibition held at the Ana Gallery, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, January 16-26, 1985] / introduction by Obiora Udechukwu. Nsukka: Department of Fine & Applied Arts, University of Nsukka, 1985. 15pp. illus. Eguno [sic] Exhibits," [review of exhibiHon held at the Black-Art Gallery, London, January 8-February 1, 1986]. West Africa (London) no. 3567: 110, January 13, 1986. Campbell, Bolaji. "Colour Attitudes: A Critique of Seven Nigerian Painters," Kurio Africana; Journal of ArtandCriticism (Ile-Ife) 1 (2): 42-51, 1989. bibl. refs. The Other Story: Afro-Asian Artists in Post-war Britain; [exhibiHon held at the Hayward Gallery, London, November 29, 1989-February 4, 1990, Wolverhampton Art Gallery, Wolverhampton, England, March 10-April 22, 1990, and City Art Gallery and Cornerhouse, Manchester, England, May 5-June 10, 1990]. London: South Bank Centre, 1989. 158pp. illus. (some color), port. "ReflecHons of Uzo Egonu," Third Text (London) 8-9 autumn-winter 1989: 173-182, 1989. Afolabi, Omotayo. "Our Nigerian: Uzo Egonu-Painfing the Soul," Homenews (London) February 22-28, 1990, page 3. illus., port. Let the Canvas Come to Life with Dark Faces; [exhibiHon held at the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum, Coventry, England, April 14-May 29, 1990; South London Art Gallery, London, July 13-August 16, 1990 and Bluecoat Gallery, Liverpool, England, October 6-November 9, 1990] / introducHon by Eddie Chambers. London: Herbert Art Gallery & Museum and Eddie Chambers, 1990. 66pp. illus.