Onobrakpeya, Bruce (1932 - )

Bruce Obomeyoma Onobrakpeya is a Nigerian printmaker, painter and sculptor, said to be one of the most successful artists to have emerged in West Africa during the 20th century. He was born in Agbarha-Otor in Delta State, son of an Urhobo carver. In 1957 he was admitted to the Nigerian College of Arts, Science and Technology, funded by a Federal Government Scholarship. He trained in the Western tradition of representational art, but also began at that time to experiment with forms related to Nigerian folklore, myths and legends. Onobrakpeya attended a series of printmaking workshops in Ibadan, Oshogbo, Ife and the Haystack Mountain School of Crafts in Maine, USA. His first one-man exhibition was held in 1959 in Ughelli, Nigeria. Since then his work has been shown in numerous exhibitions, in Africa, the US and Europe.