Ezedire Victor Agbakwuru unveiled Novel, a striking new chapter in his creative journey. Hosted at The Wells Carlton Hotel, the exhibition gathered Nigeria’s art community around a series of oil-stick paintings that pulse with colour, texture, and emotional depth. Blending traditional African symbolism with contemporary introspection, Novel invites viewers into a world where art becomes both reflection and renewal.

Words, Ireho Aito | Don’t Keep Your Art in the Finger! Photographs courtesy Ezedire

On the 11th of October, Abuja became the stage for Novel, a solo exhibition by Nigerian visual artist Ezedire Victor Agbakwuru. The show was hosted at The Wells Carlton Hotel, bringing together art lovers, collectors, and enthusiasts to witness a bold, introspective body of work.

Ezedire is known for his mastery of oil sticks, a medium that allows for rich texture, depth, and expressive layering. His works often balance African traditional motifs with spiritual and contemporary themes, aiming to evoke emotional resonance.

The exhibition features fifteen paintings, each named to reflect human experiences and titles like Nwata Nwoke (The Boy Child), Phenomenon, Hajiya, Kiss Me Quickly, and Love Waits appear in the roster. The works explore themes of identity, faith, love, and transformation.

Visitors reported a powerful dialog between viewer and canvas, where texture, colour, and symbol interact to tell stories both personal and communal.

In different images and at different positions, we see art admirers closely engaging with the canvases, the soft gallery lighting enhancing the vibrant hues and textual detail of the works

Novel marks a turning point and it is not just a collection but a statement of growth, reflection, and renewal. Ezedire treats this as a bridge between his roots and his evolving vision, marrying tradition and innovation.

By bringing this exhibition to Abuja, he reaffirms the city’s role in Nigeria’s contemporary art ecology, and invites audiences to journey with him into the new.