Christopher Uchefuna Okeke, born on 30 April 1933 in Nimo, Anambra State, was one of Nigerian's pioneering modern artists. His passion for drawing and painting emerged early during his education at St. Peter Claver's School, Metropolitan College, and Bishop Shanahan College. Before studying Fine Art at the Nigerian College of Arts, Science and Technology (now Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria), he...
Christopher Uchefuna Okeke, born on 30 April 1933 in Nimo, Anambra State, was one of Nigerian's pioneering modern artists. His passion for drawing and painting emerged early during his education at St. Peter Claver's School, Metropolitan College, and Bishop Shanahan College. Before studying Fine Art at the Nigerian College of Arts, Science and Technology (now Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria), he had already exhibited taxidermy and artworks in Jos and Kaduna, with Sir Ahmadu Bello in attendance.
In 1958, Okeke co-founded the influential Zaria Art Society alongside Yusuf Grillo, Bruce Onobrakpeya, Demas Nwoko, and others. The group championed "Natural Synthesis," merging traditional African aesthetics with modern techniques to reject colonial art education. Deeply inspired by Igbo Uli motifs, Okeke's work celebrated Nigeria's cultural identity.
He passed away on 5 January 2016 in Nimo at age 82. In 2024, his art was posthumously featured at the Venice Biennale for the first time.
