Kingsley Ogwara
Peintre et sculpteur | Nigeria / Luxembourg
Ogwara est un maître dans l’orchestration des couleurs et des formes. Il exprime avec intuition un sentiment universel de partage, une harmonie profonde qui nous relie tous. Ses textures riches et superposées révèlent le sculpteur en lui, conférant à ses toiles une dimension tridimensionnelle singulière.
Mes sculptures et peintures principalement abstraites parlent de la transformation et de la connexion humaines, de la liberté et de l'harmonie à trouver dans la masse."
Portrait
Kingsley Ogwara (1975) studied his bachelors in Fine and Applied Arts at Delta State University in Abrake, Nigeria and resides and works from Luxembourg, where he is a well recognised painter and sculptor. His paintings and sculptures in clay, stone, wood or metal consist of organic concave and convex forms, mostly (semi-)abstract and are inspired by African or European images and symbols.They center about human transformation and connection, about the freedom and harmony that can be found in the masses. As such they rather express a state of mind than an extensive narrative.
Ogwara: “In our globalized world with its many issues, we each struggle individually to live our lives in a meaningful way. When we grow up, we build up our defenses, often based on fear and distrust, resulting from the inevitable hardships that life brings sometimes. However, life also brings unexpected compassion and new windows, and each hardship brings new insights, makes us reflect and grow. We all need to mature, overcome fear and distrust and open up our defenses to connect to each other, dare to be vulnerable to give and receive love. My works are about this transformation and interconnectedness”
His paintwork with knives in oil and acrylic on canvas are characterized by pointilistic abstract orchestrations of colors and rich textures, which seem to take on the form of masses of people. Ogwara typically hides his initial images behind these thick pointilistic pastiche layers, which creates a lot of depth and suggestion. In his latest Icon-series, he experiments with adding some figurative element by allowing the initial portraits to shine through.
Ogwara has participated in many group- and solo exhibitions, amongst others in Luxemburg, Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany and Austria. He was awarded amongst others the prestigious bi-annual Prix Pierre Werner for his paintings as best artist in Luxembourg in 2016. At the Luxembourg Art Week 2019, he was nominated again with his sculptures for the Grand-Duc Adolphe award and in 2022 again for the Prix Pierre Werner, which granted him the titular membership of CAL as the first African member in its history. Most recently, he showed for 6 months at the blockbuster exhibition “Gospel” at the historical Catharijne Convent museum in Utrecht (Netherlands). His paintings are included in collections all over the world.
Kingsley Ogwara (1975) a obtenu son baccalauréat en Arts plastiques et appliqués de la Delta State University à Abraka, au Nigeria, et réside et travaille depuis le Luxembourg, où il est un peintre et sculpteur bien reconnu. Ses peintures ainsi que ses sculptures en argile, pierre, bois ou métal consistent en des formes organiques concaves et convexes, principalement (semi-)abstraites et inspirées par des images et des symboles africains ou européens. Elles se concentrent sur la transformation et la connexion humaines, sur la liberté et l'harmonie que l'on peut trouver dans la masse. En tant que telles, elles expriment plutôt un état d'esprit qu'un récit extensif.
Les masses harmonieuses sont un thème récurrent dans les peintures d'Ogwara, nées de sa lutte pendant de nombreuses années pour trouver l'acceptation en tant qu'immigrant et artiste noir dans une société occidentale blanche plutôt fermée. Une recherche d'un nouveau sentiment d'appartenance qui n'a jamais été pleinement satisfaite, étant pris entre deux identités culturelles différentes. Contrairement à beaucoup, pour Ogwara, les masses de personnes ne représentent pas une menace pour l'individu, mais plutôt une couverture chaleureuse d'appartenance, de célébration collective, de liberté individuelle d'être connecté et accepté tel que l'on est.
Ogwara: “In our globalized world with its many issues, we each struggle individually to live our lives in a meaningful way. When we grow up, we build up our defenses, often based on fear and distrust, resulting from the inevitable hardships that life brings sometimes. However, life also brings unexpected compassion and new windows, and each hardship brings new insights, makes us reflect and grow. We all need to mature, overcome fear and distrust and open up our defenses to connect to each other, dare to be vulnerable to give and receive love. My works are about this transformation and interconnectedness.”
Le travail de peinture d'Ogwara utilisant un couteau à palette et peinture à huile ou acrylique sur toile se caractérise par des orchestrations abstraites pointillistes de couleurs et de textures riches, qui semblent prendre la forme de masses de personnes. Ogwara cache généralement ses images initiales derrière ces épaisses couches de pastiche pointilliste, ce qui offre à ses toiles un charactère évocateur et une profondeur riche. Dans sa dernière série Icon, il expérimente en ajoutant un élément figuratif en permettant aux portraits initiaux de transparaître.
Ogwara a participé à de nombreuses expositions collectives et individuelles, entre autres au Luxembourg, aux Pays-Bas, en Belgique, en France, en Allemagne et en Autriche. Il a été récompensé par le prestigieux Prix Pierre Werner biannuel pour ses peintures en tant que meilleur artiste au Luxembourg en 2016. Lors de la Luxembourg Art Week 2019, il a de nouveau été nominé avec ses sculptures pour le prix Grand-Duc Adolphe et en 2022 à nouveau pour le Prix Pierre Werner, ce qui lui a accordé le titre de membre titulaire de CAL en tant que premier membre africain de son histoire. L'année dernière, il a exposé pendant 6 mois à l'exposition événement "Gospel" au musée historique CatharijneConvent à Utrecht (Pays-Bas). Ses peintures font également partie de collections à travers le monde.
Works
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Credentials
2024
- Europe meets Africa, Galeri, European court of auditors, Luxembourg
2023
- Healing, Hôpitaux Robert Schuman, Luxembourg
2021
- Coming Out, OpenArtExchange, Schiedam (Rotterdam), Netherlands
2020
- INSIDE, OpenArtExchange, Schiedam (Rotterdam), Netherlands
- Unlocked / Reconnected, OpenArtExchange, Schiedam (Rotterdam), Netherlands
2019
- Quantum strokes, Gallery Denzelt, Echternach, Luxembourg
2018
- Inner wisdom, Sofitel Europe, Kirchberg, Luxembourg
- Color and Forms, Galery Netzwerk, Trier, Germany
2017
- Investigation of colours, Galery Schlassgoart, Esch-zur-Alzette, Luxembourg
2016
- Gallery L’Impression, Dinant, Belgium
2010
- Gallery Armand, Gaasch, Luxembourg
- Gallery Spiren, Strassen, Luxembourg
- Gallery Maggy Stein, Bettembourg, Luxembourg
2026
- TALK MELANIN, OpenArtExchange, Talk C.E.C. Brussels, Belgium
2025
- House of the Future II: Common Grounds, OpenArtExchange, Schiedam, The Netherlands
2024
- Luxembourg ArtWeek (CAL), Luxembourg
- (Un)fair, international art fair, Milan, Italy, represented by OpenArtExchange
- Hello 2024!, OpenArtExchange, Schiedam (Rotterdam), Netherlands
- Discovery Art Fair Cologne, Germany, represented by OpenArtExchange
2023
- Discovery Art Fair Cologne, Germany, represented by OpenArtExchange
- Spirituality, OpenArtExchange, Schiedam (Rotterdam), Netherlands
- Farben diebe, Valentiny Foundation, Remerschen, Luxembourg
2022
- Salon de CAL 2022, Luxembourg Art Week, Luxembourg
- Discovery Art Fair Frankfurt, represented by OpenArtExchange
- Art The Hague, The Hague, Netherlands, represented by OpenArtExchange
- Gospel, Museum Catharijneconvent, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Africa Now II, OpenArtExchange, Schiedam (Rotterdam), Netherlands
- Lux-Auction/MSF, Luxembourg
- First Art Fair, Amsterdam, Netherlands, represented by OpenArtExchange
- Lille Art Up!, international art fair, France, represented by OpenArtExchange
2021
- ST-ART Strasbourg, France, represented by OpenArtExchange
- Art The Hague, Netherlands, represented by OpenArtExchange
- H2O, Differdange, Luxembourg
- Lille Art Up!, international art fair, France, represented by OpenArtExchange
- Art Drive-in Nachtbroetchen, Airport Cologne, Germany
2020
- Discovery Art Fair Frankfurt, Germany, represented by OpenArtExchange
- Africa Now, OpenArtExchange, Schiedam (Rotterdam), Netherlands
- H2O, Differdange, Luxembourg
- Hello 2020!, OpenArtExchange, Schiedam (Rotterdam), Netherlands
- International Art Fair Insbrück, Gallerie Bertrand Kass, Austria
2019
- Luxembourg Art Fair, Luxembourg, represented by OpenArtExchange
- ST-ART Strasbourg, France, represented by OpenArtExchange
- Mulhouse Art Fair, Mulhouse, Switzerland, represented by OpenArtExchange
- Salon de CAL, Luxembourg ART Week 2019, Luxembourg
- New World, OpenArtExchange, Schiedam (Rotterdam), Netherlands
- Gand Art Fair, Belgium, represented by OpenArtExchange
- Gallery H20, Differdange, Luxembourg
- ART Laren, Netherlands, represented by OpenArtExchange
- Paris Art Fair, France, represented by OpenArtExchange
- ArtUp! Lille, international art fair, France, represented by OpenArtExchange
- Hello 2019!, Art Rotterdam Week, OpenArtExchange, Schiedam (Rotterdam), Netherlands
2018
- Luxembourg Art Fair, Luxembourg, represented by OpenArtExchange
- Antwerp Art Fair, Belgium
- Gallery H2O, Differdange, Luxembourg
- #InnerCities, OpenArtExchange, Schiedam (Rotterdam), Netherlands
- OpenExpo, City museum for Modern and Contemporary Art, Schiedam, Netherlands
2017
- Exposition à la Médiathèque, Mazières-Lès-Metz, France
- Afrique, L’Espace Saint-Mengold, Huy, France
- Gallery H20, Differdange, Luxembourg
2016
- Salon de CAL, Luxembourg Art Week, Luxembourg
- Gallery H20, Differdange, Luxembourg
2015
- Gallery Hennen, Mettlach, Germany
- Gallery H20, Differdange, Luxembourg
2014
- Gallery H2O, Differdange, Luxembourg
2013
- 7th Biennale Contemporary Art, Strassen, Luxembourg
2012
- Festival Montmartre, Dinant, Belgium
2011
- Open Art Festival, Lellegen, Luxembourg
- 2nd edition Art Contemporain Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg Gallery
2022
- OpenArtExchange, Schiedam (Rotterdam), Netherlands
2020
- Gallery H2O, Differdange, Luxembourg
2019
- OpenArtExchange, Schiedam (Rotterdam), Netherlands
- Gallery H2O, Differdange, Luxembourg
2018
- OpenArtyExchange, Schiedam (Rotterdam), Netherlands
- Gallery H2O, Differdange, Luxembourg
2017
- Gallery H2O, Differdange, Luxembourg
2016
- Gallery H2O, Differdange, Luxembourg
2015
- Gallery H20, Differdange, Luxembourg
2024
- Appointed member of CAL, Cercle Artistique de Luxembourg
2022
- Cercle Artistique de Luxembourg (CAL) nomination 'Prix Pierre Werner ' Best artist, Luxembourg Art Week
2019
- Cercle Artistique de Luxembourg (CAL) nomination 'Prix Grand-Duc Adolphe' Best artist, Luxembourg Art Week
2016
- Cercle Artistique de Luxembourg (CAL) nomination 'Prix Pierre Werner ' Best artist, Luxembourg Art Week
2012
- Award best artist, Festival Montmartre, Dinant, Belgium
2011
- Award best artist, Open Art Festival, Lellegen, Luxembourg
- Award 3rd best artist, 2nd edition Art Contemporain Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
2023
- Museum Catharijneconvent, Utrecht, Netherlands
Bachelors in Fine and Applied Arts at Delta State University in Abrake, Nigeria
- Musée Villa Vaubun de Luxembourg
- SAR Grand Duke of Luxembourg
- Ministery of Arts & Culture Luxembourg
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs Luxembourg
- Communal Administration of Differdange, Luxembourg
- Communal Administration of Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
- Communal Administration of Bettembourg, Luxembourg
2026
- TALK MELANIN, OpenArtExchange, Talk C.E.C. Brussels, Belgium
2025
- House of the Future II: Common Grounds, OpenArtExchange, Schiedam, The Netherlands
2024
- Hello 2024!, OpenArtExchange, Schiedam (Rotterdam), Netherlands
2023
- Spirituality, OpenArtExchange, Schiedam (Rotterdam), Netherlands
2022
- Africa Now II, OpenArtExchange, Schiedam (Rotterdam), Netherlands
2021
- Coming Out, OpenArtExchange, Schiedam (Rotterdam), Netherlands
2020
- Africa Now, OpenArtExchange, Schiedam (Rotterdam), Netherlands
- Unlocked / Reconnected, OpenArtExchange, Schiedam (Rotterdam), Netherlands
- INSIDE, OpenArtExchange, Schiedam (Rotterdam), Netherlands
2019
- Hello 2019!, Art Rotterdam Week, OpenArtExchange, Schiedam (Rotterdam), Netherlands
- New World, OpenArtExchange, Schiedam (Rotterdam), Netherlands
2018
- #InnerCities, OpenArtExchange, Schiedam (Rotterdam), Netherlands