ARTROAD – Exhibition | Ezedire’s Novel Opens a New Chapter. Five Highlights to Expect at the Exhibition

By Ireho Aito | iBAND Magazine, Lagos

We evolve everyday in a world where art keeps finding new ways to speak. Novel, Ezedire Victor Agbakwuru latest exhibition, is one of those ways. This is a show that goes beyond the canvas and connects the old with the new. Showing at The Wells Carlton Hotel in Abuja, Novel brings colour, texture, and emotion together to tell stories of faith, identity, and transformation. Novel exhibition opens on the 11th of October 2025.

Ezedire paints with oil sticks, a tough but expressive tool that gives his work a rich, textured feel. It defines him and tailor his passion. His art comes from deep African roots but carries a message that people everywhere can relate to.

Novel is more than just another art show. It is the result of Ezedire’s long search to combine spirit, culture, and creativity. His art has been shown around the world most recently at Art Vancouver 2024, yet he always returns home for inspiration. Novel marks that return, showing that Africa is not only his starting point but also his strength.

Every painting in the show feels alive with emotion and faith. Ezedire believes that art should touch the soul and make people feel connected and not only to themselves but also to something greater.

Here are five highlights to expect at Novel exhibition

Deep Connection Through Oil-Stick Art
Ezedire’s use of oil sticks brings out strong feelings and bold textures. Each line and layer tells a story. Viewers won’t just look at his art alone, they will definitely feel it. Just like a conversation between the artist and the heart.

Where Tradition Meets Technology
Ezedire’s art is a bridge between the past and the future. He draws from African inspirations and stories but uses modern methods and digital ideas to give them new life. “Technology didn’t replace my roots. It made them stronger,” he says. His paintings show how culture and technology can work together beautifully.

Art That Feels Spiritual
Many of his ideas come to him in dreams. “I see the paintings before I make them,” he told iBAND Magazine. That dreamlike process gives Novel a spiritual touch, making each work feel like a message from beyond.

Fifteen Paintings to Relish
Ezedire Victor Agbakwuru returns with a bold new collection of fifteen paintings that reflect the pulse of human experience and emotion. Among the works are Nwata Nwoke (The Boy Child), Phenomenon, Hajiya, Kiss Me Quickly, and Love Waits. Each piece revealing his signature blend of symbolism and storytelling. Through these vivid portrayals, Ezedire explores love, identity, and the layered emotions that define everyday life, offering viewers a journey through spirit and substance.

An Evening to Remember
When Novel opens 6pm on October 11 at The Wells Carlton Hotel, it will bring together art lovers, collectors, and fans to witness something special that is a mix of energy, culture, and purpose. “Each painting,” he says, “is a talk between where I come from and where I am going.”

Novel, Ezedire’s latest exhibition is proudly supported by Artcentriq Limited, O.K. Isokariari Nigeria Limited, and the Nasiru Haladu Danu Foundation, organizations that continue to champion creativity and the growth of contemporary African art.

Novel exhibition opens on the 11th of October 2025

Words/Ireho Aito/Don’t Keep Your Art in the Finger/Photographs/Artwork/Ezedire.com