Oliver Enwonwu is a third-generation artist based in Canterbury. His grandfather was a reputable traditional sculptor while his father Professor Ben Enwonwu MBE, is celebrated as Africa’s pioneer modernist artist. Enwonwu’s art examines history, memory, and identity, particularly as they intersect with the legacies of colonialism and migration.
From 2009 to 2021, he served as the President of the Society of Nigerian Artists, established in 1963 as the umbrella professional body for all artists in Nigeria. In 2024, he was selected as the first recipient of the Akoje Residency, House Dumfries, Scotland, organised through the King’s Foundation and The Akoje Foundation.
Alongside an active studio practice in Folkestone, he works as a curator, art administrator, author, and publisher. His extensive experience of over 20 years encompasses consulting for numerous galleries and auction houses, including Gallery 1957 (Accra, London), Sotheby’s, Christie’s, Bonhams, Roseberys, and Arthouse Contemporary Ltd. Oliver Enwonwu is the founder, executive director, and a trustee of The Ben Enwonwu Foundation. The publisher of Omenka, Africa’s first arts, business, and luxury-lifestyle magazine, he is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and sits on the board of several organisations, including the Lagos Biennial.
