How pleasing it was to witness Professor Bruce Onobrakpeya arrive in rich Urhobo regalia, carrying not just the dignity of culture but the living memory of Nigerian art itself. The image from the invitation card captured the moment perfectly: “Art lives through those who build it, nurture it, and pass it on.” Few artists embody those words more completely than the grandmaster whose influence continues to shape generations.

Words Ireho Aito | Don’t Keep Your Art in the Finger! Photographs courtesy Dr. Mudiare Onobrakpeya

From being in a Natural Synthesis to the famous Hydrochloric Acid Accident, to Urhobo-themed prints and his illustrative prowess on African Writers’ Series, to the establishment of Harmattan Workshop at Agbarha-Otor in Delta State, Professor Bruce Onobrakpeya’s story cannot be written without the power of St. Gregory’s College.

The just concluded Gregorian exhibition became more than a celebration of artworks. It was a return to the journey of a teacher, mentor, innovator, and cultural custodian whose career transformed modern African art. Long before global recognition came, Onobrakpeya taught Fine Art at St. Gregory’s College, where he inspired young creatives who themselves have become respected masters in Nigerian art today. In many ways, the exhibition also honoured the ripple effect of his classroom legacy.

Visitors moved through prints, plastographs, symbolic forms, and deeply textured works that carried echoes of Urhobo folklore, spirituality, and African identity. The spirit of experimentation that emerged from the celebrated Hydrochloric Acid Accident was still visible in the works on display, the proof of an artist who never stopped searching for new visual possibilities.

Beyond the gallery walls, the exhibition also reflected the enduring importance of the Harmattan Workshop at Agbarha-Otor, Delta State, where generations of artists continue to gather, learn, and exchange ideas under a tradition he founded decades ago. That spirit of continuity could be felt throughout the event.

As the curtains closed on the exhibition, what remained was not simply admiration for a legendary artist, but gratitude for a life devoted to building, nurturing, and passing art on to others.

iBAND Magazine, Celebrating Visual Arts from the Original.
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