Biography:
Born on November 11, 1971, in Imo State, Nigeria, Ezedire grew up with a restless curiosity and a deep sensitivity to the world around him. His journey as an artist began with formal studies at Federal Government College in Port Harcourt and later at the University of Port Harcourt, but it was in Abuja, FCT, Nigeria; where he established his studio; that his vision truly took shape.
Ezedire is not a painter who follows convention. He chooses oilsticks over brushes, preferring the immediacy of direct contact with his medium. Each stroke carries the weight of touch, creating layered, textured surfaces that pulse with rhythm, movement, and depth. His canvases breathe, alive with energy, echoing the emotive intensity of Vincent van Gogh and the atmospheric lyricism of Claude Monet.
Yet his art is not only about technique; it is about humanity. At the heart of his practice lies an exploration of perception, beauty, and identity. His figures, whether female or male, emerge from abstraction like memories surfacing from the subconscious. They embody the phases of life we all pass through; physiological, emotional, and spiritual; capturing the fragility, resilience, and mystery of human experience. Depending on the viewer’s distance, details blur or sharpen, inviting contemplation and personal interpretation.
His colour palettes are vibrant and deeply emotive, designed to stir visceral reactions and awaken reflection. Through them, Ezedire speaks a universal language; one that resonates across cultures and continents. His works have been exhibited widely in Nigeria, the United States, Europe, and beyond, and now live in private collections across the globe. Each piece is a testament to his meditative, deeply human approach to abstraction, and to his belief that art can mirror the journey of life itself.
Artist Statement:
Art, for me, is not just creation; it is a journey into the essence of existence, a search for beauty, connection, and the unseen forces that shape our lives. Each canvas becomes a mirror of the human experience, reflecting the phases we pass through; physiological, emotional, and spiritual.
I work with oilsticks because they allow me to touch the medium directly, to feel the rhythm of colour and texture as it unfolds. Abstraction, in my hands, is not an escape from reality but a language, alive with motion, depth, and resonance. My figures, whether female or male, emerge from this language as symbols of strength, vulnerability, and resilience. Women of African descent often stand at the centre of my compositions, embodying grace and power, but men too appear as carriers of identity, memory, and shared humanity.
My influences are woven into the fabric of my process: the expressive turbulence of Van Gogh, the light-soaked serenity of Monet. Their spirit lives in my layered surfaces, blurred outlines, and vibrant energy. Painting is physical for me; an intuitive dance between hand and canvas, where movement guides meaning.
At the heart of my work is the act of seeing, not only with the eyes, but with the emotions. From afar, forms rise out of abstraction; up close, chaos becomes texture, detail dissolves, and the imagination fills in what is unseen. In this shifting space lies my invitation: to feel first and interpret later.
Every piece I create is a meditation on the fluidity of life; an attempt to find harmony within dissonance, form within freedom, and connection within abstraction. My art is both personal and universal, a reminder that within the layers of colour and motion, we can glimpse ourselves, our journeys, and the shared story of being human.
Education:
1983: Federal Government College, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
2000: University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
Recent shows:
2023: "In Suo Fordere" (Solo Exhibition), Black Gallery, Palazzo Viccidini, Abuja, Nigeria
2023: "Contemporary Abstraction" (Group Exhibition), Artsy/Online International
2023: "Imagination, a Journey through Abstract Art" (Group Exhibition), Taag Gallery/Artsy, Online Exhibition
2023: "Capturing Essence" (Solo Exhibition), Ogirikan Art Gallery/Artsy, Online Exhibition
2023: "Reactions of the Brain" (Solo Exhibition), Beste Gallery, Embassy of Turkiye, Abuja, Nigeria
2024: "+Unbridled" (Group Exhibition), Pan African Circle of Artists, Dakar, Senegal
2024: "Intrecci" (Group Exhibition), Trevisan International Art Gallery, Bologna, Galleria De Marchi, Italy
2024: "Eyes that See" (Solo Exhibition), Artcentriq Gallery, BON Hotel, Abuja, Nigeria
2024: "Colors of Africa" (Kultur Yolu Festivali), TIKA/IKASD , Ankara, Turkiye
2024: "Resonate" (Duo Exhibition), Sicilyarts Space, Abuja, Nigeria
2024: "Olympics of Art" (Juried Exhibition), Artiade Gallery, New York, NY, USA
2024: Juried Exhibition, Akwaaba Gallery, Newark, NJ, USA
2025: "Color Vibrations" (Group Exhibition), Akwaba Gallery, Newark, Nj, USA
2025: "Art Vancouver 2025" (Art fair), Vancouver, Canada
2025: "Intersection of treasures 2025" (Art fair), Abuja, Nigeria
2025: "Shoonyam" (Group Exhibition), Luna Arts Gallery/Visual Art Gallery, New Delhi, India
2025: "Intersection of treasures 2025" (Art fair), Abuja, Nigeria
2025: "On the edge " (Group exhibition), Vancouver, Canada
2025: “Novel” (Solo exhibition), Abuja, Nigeria
2025: “Baroqueisation of the contempoary” PACA , Moriri Gallery, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
2026: “Grand Opening” Gallery Anderson Smith, Atlanta, USA.
2026 Bookings
Valencia - SPAIN (2026), London - ENGLAND (2026), Atlanta - USA (2026), Toronto - CANADA (2026), Abuja - NIGERIA (2026), Lagos - NIGERIA (2026)
Selected Collections:
Ezedire Victor Agbakwuru's works are featured in various national and international private collections. He is a member of the Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA) and the Pan African Circle of Artists (PACA). You can find him on Instagram @ezedireartist.