​Father & Sons

 

 

Emmanuel Ekong Ekefrey

"Colour beautifies the world. African masks are seen as an element of ugliness; my role is to use vibrant colours to beautify what is termed as ugly." - Emmanuel Ekong Ekefrey

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Born in 1952 into a lineage of men gifted with the art of expression, I have always drawn inspiration from my father—renowned as the finest wood carver in Ikot-Ukap. As a young boy running barefoot through the streets of Ndiya village, I first engaged with art through charcoal sketches and expressive lines drawn in sand. These early explorations have since evolved into intricate and symbolic compositions on canvas.

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My work is rooted in the lived experiences of society. The themes I explore reflect the rhythm of everyday life, reimagined through bold forms and vibrant symbolism. I am particularly known for my use of gigantism—a stylistic approach that maximizes every inch of the canvas. This deliberate expansiveness invites viewers into an immersive dialogue with the piece, compelling deeper engagement and interpretation.

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Drawing from my Ibibio cultural heritage, my paintings celebrate the visual language of our ancestral traditions—especially the Ekpe masquerade and the graceful Abang maiden dancers. These cultural motifs serve not only as aesthetic inspiration but as vessels of memory, identity, and continuity.

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My art has crossed borders, finding homes in major galleries across France, the United States, Denmark, Germany, Mexico, Venezuela, and my beloved homeland, Nigeria.
 

 

Erikan Ekefrey

"Thank you Lord, as I do the work, please establish it. Amen" - Erikan Ekefrey

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Throughout the years, I have come to understand that my artistry is an amalgamation of life’s moments—captured and expressed on canvas. My evolution as an artist is mirrored in my work, each piece a reflection of the journey I’ve walked. I am a proud Nigerian artist of Ibibio heritage, deeply committed to sharing my culture, community, and traditions with the world.

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Art is in my lineage. My father, a renowned artist, has been a constant source of inspiration, and his own creativity was shaped by his father—a sculptor of wooden images and masquerade masks. This generational influence continues to flow through my hands and heart.

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My work in contemporary art bridges the traditional and the modern, encompassing African, figurative, non-figurative, and miniature forms. My style blends vibrant colors, lyrical forms, bold black lines, mask-like faces, motif patterns, and symbolic spacing. I am drawn to themes rooted in social, economic, and political realities. In all of this, I am a storyteller—my canvas is where narratives are born.

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Each creative season brings something new, yet remains authentically me. Whether abstract or representational, every piece I make is a true expression of the gift within me. I do not create from a fixed place—I create from faith. I am a vessel guided by God. My process is spiritual, intuitive, and unbound. I let God guide my strokes and surrender to the flow of His inspiration.

 

Edo Ekefrey

Art, for me, is not just a skill — it's a discovery of self. I began my creative journey as a teenager, painting with my dad around the age of 14 or 15. Those early experiences opened a door, but it wasn’t until a few years later, when I picked up a pencil to sketch for the first time, that I truly found my voice as an artist.

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My first pencil portrait — a drawing of the American rap artist 50 Cent — was a breakthrough moment. It was the first time I realized I could create something powerful and lifelike using just a pencil. I didn’t learn through formal training or academic study. I am a self-taught artist, and I consider this ability a gift — something natural, something divine.

 

Pencil drawing has become my main form of expression because of its simplicity and depth. There’s something incredibly powerful about turning a blank sheet of paper into a detailed, emotive portrait using only graphite. My work is driven by detail, realism, and the challenge of capturing not just the likeness, but the soul of my subjects.

 

Although I work alone, I continue to learn by observing other artists, absorbing techniques and ideas that help me refine my craft. Each piece I create is both a celebration of raw talent and a reflection of years of dedication and exploration. I believe that art doesn’t always need to be taught — sometimes, it needs to be discovered.

 

Through my pencil portraits, I aim to show the beauty in simplicity, the strength in subtlety, and the emotion that can live within a single stroke.