—  ABOUT

Emmanuel Nwogbo is a Nigerian-Canadian visual artist who now calls Montreal home. Emmanuel grew up in Lagos, the largest city in Africa. The rich culture and heritage combined with the vibrant energy of one of the world’s cultural epicentres exposed him to the arts at an early age through colourful afrobeat musicians such as Fela Kuti, Lagbaja, and more.

This fascination for pop culture led him to pursue Visual Art and Visual Communication Design, and then a master’s degree in Interdisciplinary Design at NSCAD University. After emigrating to Canada, Emmanuel discovered his love for storytelling through digital collages and photo manipulation. His digital riffs are informed by his interest in 20th Century art movements such as Pop art, Surrealism, and Dada. These styles reverberate through Nigerian culture and have inspired Emmanuel to continually explore and experiment with the interconnectedness between art, culture, and materiality. 

In 2018, his exceptional creative and technical skills were showcased through his project, 365 Days of James Bond Characters. This series of daily digital posters earned Emmanuel The Coast’s Best of Halifax Reader’s Choice Award for Best Visual Artist in 2019. 

As an ambassador for the Nigerian diaspora, Emmanuel’s recent works seek to shed light on all aspects of Nigerian culture in a world where preconceived biases and stereotypes about Nigeria are commonplace. He has illustrated the richness and diversity of Nigeria in his current Suya Man Series.

ARTIST CV

EDUCATION

2016 Master of Design – NSCAD University, Halifax, NS

2015 PBAC. Certificate in Interdisciplinary Design – NSCAD University, Halifax, NS

2014 BA. Visual Art and Visual Communication Design – EMU, Famagusta, TRNC

EXHIBITION WORK SOLO AND GROUP (SELECTED)

2023 Wonder: the Real, the Surreal, and the Fantastic, Art Gallery of Hamilton, Hamilton, ON

2022 The Suya Man Series, The Prismatic Art Festival, Halifax, NS

2020 365 James Bond Characters, Sunroom Art Space at the Halifax Public Library, Halifax, NS

2019 The Suya Man Series, Kurating Online Gallery, kurating.com

2019 365 James Bond Characters, VANS Corridor Gallery, Halifax, NS

2018 365 James Bond Characters, VANS New Grad Program, Open Studio, Halifax, NS

2018 365 James Bond Characters, Halifax Sunday Assembly, Halifax Central Library, Halifax, NS

PRESS & MEDIA

WONDER. What does it mean to be real? Art Gallery of Hamilton exhibit dives into the "surreal and the fantastic". thespec.com. December 24, 2023. Web article

WONDER. Is it possible to capture a sense of wonder? A new art exhibit gives it a shot. theglobeandmail.com. December 23, 2023. Web article

WONDER. WONDER: the real, the surreal, and the fantastic. December 21, 2023. artgalleryofhamilton.com. Web article

WONDER. WONDER & Breathing in China at the Art Gallery of Hamilton. November 8, 2023. akimbo.ca. Web article

Emmanuel Nwogbo. Black Artists Spotlight for Black History Month. gwartzmans.com. February 16, 2023. Web article

The Suya Man Series. The Suya Man Series + Artist Talk. April 30th, 2022. prismaticfestival.com. Web article

Emmanuel Nwogbo. Revision Path Podcast, Podcast Interview, January 24, 2022

Emmanuel Nwogbo. 10 Black Canadian artists to follow and celebrate. February 27, 2021. Web article

Emmanuel Nwogbo. Art Pays Me Podcast, Podcast Interview, June 14, 2020

Emmanuel Nwogbo. Best Visual Artist. The Coast Halifax, November 07, 2019: Page 35. Newspaper Print.

Emmanuel Nwogbo. Best Visual Artist. thecoast.ca. November 07, 2019. Web article.

The Suya Man Series. Suya Goes to Space, Hogwarts and Other Unlikely Places (by Emmanuel Nwogbo). kurating.com. May 18, 2019. Web article.

365 James Bond Characters. Corridor Gallery: 365 James Bond Characters. The Coast Halifax, May 09, 2019: Page 15. Newspaper Print.

365 James Bond Characters. 365 James Bond Characters. thecoast.ca. May 09, 2019. Web article.

Emmanuel Nwogbo. Emmanuel Nwogbo, Artist – Halifax. akimbo.ca. May 08, 2019. Web article.

365 James Bond Characters. “365 James Bond Characters” by Emmanuel Nwogbo. visualarts.ns.ca. April 30, 2019. Web article.

Emmanuel Nwogbo. Emmanuel “Mister 365” Nwogbo. My Blackout Podcast, Podcast Interview, January 15, 2019

365 James Bond Characters. CBC Nova Scotia Radio, Information Morning Interview, January 04, 2019

365 James Bond Characters. Emmanuel Nwogbo Is Creating James Bond-Inspired Art Every Day for a Year. konbini.com. March 19, 2018. Web article.

365 James Bond Characters. CBC Nova Scotia TV, Atlantic Tonight News feature, March 17, 2018

365 James Bond Characters. CBC Nova Scotia Radio, Atlantic Tonight News feature, March 17, 2018

365 James Bond Characters. To beat boredom, Halifax artist creates James Bond-inspired artwork every day. cbc.ca. March 17, 2018. Web article.

365 James Bond Characters. Emmanuel Nwogbo’s Digital Dreamland. The Coast Halifax, February 15, 2018: Cover Page and Page 7. Newspaper Print.

365 James Bond Characters. Emmanuel Nwogbo’s Digital Riffs. thecoast.ca. February 15, 2018. Web article.

AWARDS

2019 The Coast Halifax Reader’s Choice Awards: Gold Winner, Best Visual Artist in Halifax

PUBLICATIONS

Nature as Communities at Dalhousie Art Gallery. Akimbo.ca, June 20, 2019: Web Article

Designing for Justice in the Niger Delta. Halifax, Nova Scotia: NSCAD University, 2016. MDes Thesis Book.

PRESENTATIONS & TALKS

2019 “I Made Something Everyday.” Center for Art Tapes (CFAT), Halifax, Nova Scotia. Project Presentation and Q&A Session.

2018 “What I Learned From 328 Days of James Bond.” Halifax Sunday Assembly. Halifax Public Library, Halifax, Nova Scotia. Project Presentation

and Q&A Session.

2015 “Niger Delta: The Land of Vultures and Unchanging Tides.” MDes Thesis Defence. NSCAD University, Halifax, Nova Scotia. Project Presentation