
Painter and sculptor | Nigeria / Luxembourg
Ogwara is a master orchestrator of colours and forms, who intuitively expresses the common denominating feeling that is shared, the harmony that can be found and connects us all. His layered, rich textures give away the sculptor within him, adding distinct 3-D effect to his canvasses.
“My mostly abstract sculptures and paintings are about human transformation and connection, about the freedom and harmony to be found in the masses.”
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.
Healing, Hôpitaux Robert Schuman, Luxembourg
Coming Out, OpenArtExchange, Schiedam, Netherlands
Inside, OpenArtExchange, Schiedam, Netherlands
Quantum strokes, Gallery Denzelt, Echternach/Luxembourg
Inner wisdom, Sofitel Europe, Kirchberg, Luxembourg
Color and Forms, Galery Netzwerk, Trier, Germany
Investigation of colours, Galery Schlassgoart, Esch-zur-Alzette, Luxembourg
Gallery L’Impression, Dinant, Belgium
Gallery Armand, Gaasch, Luxembourg
Gallery Spiren, Strassen, Luxembourg
Gallery Maggy Stein, Bettembourg, LuxembourgLuxembourg
DAF Cologne, international art fair via OpenArtExchange, Cologne, Germany
Farben diebe, Valentiny Foundation, Remerschen, Luxembourg
Salon de CAL 2022, Luxembourg Art Week, Luxembourg
DAF Frankfurt, international art fair via OpenArtExchange, Frankfurt, Germany
Art The Hague via OpenArtExchange, The Hague, Netherlands
Gospel, Museum Catharijneconvent, Utrecht, The Netherlands
Africa Now II, OpenArtExchange, Schiedam, Netherlands
DAF Cologne, international art fair via OpenArtExchange, Cologne, Germany
Lux-Auction/MSF, Luxembourg
First Art Fair, via OpenArtExchange, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Lille Art Up!, international art fair via OpenArtExchange, Lille, France
ST’ART Strasbourg via OpenArtExchange, France
Art The Hague via OpenArtExchange, The Hague, Netherlands
H2O, Differdange, Luxembourg
Lille Art Up!, international art fair via OpenArtExchange, Lille, France
Art Drive-in Nachtbroetchen, Airport Cologne, Germany
Discovery Art Fair Frankurt via OpenArtExchange, Germany
Africa Now, OpenArtExchange, Schiedam, Netherlands
H2O, Differdange, Luxembourg
Hello 2020!, OpenArtExchange, Schiedam, Netherlands
International Art Fair Insbrück, Gallerie Bertrand Kass, Insbrück, Austria
Luxembourg Art Fair, international art fair via OpenArtExchange, LuxExpo The Box, Luxembourg
ST-ART Strasbourg, international art fair via OpenArtExchange, Strasbourg, France
Mulhouse Art Fair, international art fair via OpenArtExchange, Mulhouse, France
Salon de CAL, Luxembourg ART Week 2019, Luxembourg
New World, OpenArtExhcange, Schiedam, Netherlands
Ghent Art Fair, international art fair via OpenArtExchange, Ghent, Belgium
Gallery H20, Differdange, Luxembourg
ART Laren, OpenArtExchange, Netherlands
Contemporary Art Fair Paris, international art fair via OpenArtExchange, Paris, France
ArtUp! Lille international art fair via OpenArtExhange, Lille, France
Hello 2019!, Art Rotterdam Week, OpenArtExchange, Schiedam (Rotterdam-region), Netherlands
Luxembourg Art Fair via OpenArtExchange, Luxembourg
Antwerp Art Fair, Belgium
Gallery H2O, Differdange, Luxembourg
#InnerCities, OpenArtExchange, Schiedam, The Netherlands
OpenExpo, City museum for Modern and Contemporary Art, Schiedam, Netherlands
Exposition à la Médiathèque, Mazières-Lès-Metz, France
Afrique, L’Espace Saint-Mengold, Huy, France
Gallery H20, Differdange, Luxembourg
Salon de CAL, Luxembourg Art Week, Luxembourg
Gallery H20, Differdange, Luxembourg
Gallery Hennen, Mettlach, Germany
Gallery H20, Differdange, Luxembourg
Gallery H2O, Differdange, Luxembourg
7th Biennale Contemporary Art, Strassen, Luxembourg
Festival Montmartre, Dinant, Belgium
Open Art Festival, Lellegen, Luxembourg
2nd edition Art Contemporain Esch-sur-Alzette, LuxembourgGallery
OpenArtExchange, Schiedam, The Netherlands
Gallery H2O, Differdange, Luxembourg
OpenArtExchange, Schiedam, The Netherlands
Gallery H2O, Differdange, Luxembourg
OpenArtyExchange, Schiedam, Netherlands
Gallery H2O, Differdange, Luxembourg
Gallery H2O, Differdange, Luxembourg
Gallery H2O, Differdange, Luxembourg
Gallery H20, Differdange, Luxembourg
Cercle Artistique de Luxembourg (CAL) nomination ”Prix Pierre Werner ” Best artist (Luxembourg Art Week)
Cercle Artistique de Luxembourg (CAL) nomination ”Prix Grand-Duc Adolphe ” Best artist (Luxembourg Art Week)
Award best artist Luxembourg Art Week – Prix Pierre Werner, Cercle Artistique de Luxembourg, Luxembourg
Award best artist, Festival Montmartre, Dinant, Belgium
Award best artist, Open Art Festival, Lellegen, Luxembourg
Award 3rd best artist, 2nd edition Art Contemporain Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
City museum for modern & contemporary art Schiedam, Schiedam Netherlands
Museum Catharijneconvent, Utrecht, Netherlands
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