Lot 121 - Matthew Eguavoen - Sadiq

ARTIST INFO

About 

Matthew Imuetiyan Eguavoen (b.1988, Edo State) lives and works in the city of Lagos, Nigeria. Matthew Eguavoen is a contemporary artist with a singular style. Far more expressive than the traditional portrait, the Lagos-based artist uses color and composition to raise questions about gender, race and history, particularly linked to Nigeria and Africa. In his portraits, Matthew uses a combination of oil paint, acrylic paint, charcoal, and graphite pencils to document stories that encompass the emotions and demeanor of his muse to the viewer of his work. He depicts the vulnerability and openness associated with expressing the feelings of love, as well as the apprehension of protecting one’s self from heart break and ulterior motives. His work addresses the lack of awareness on mental health, especially depression. Due to the stigma associated with mental health, conversations about depression are not often had, hence information, and resources required to deal with depression are sparse and the effect of societal pressures and timelines seton youths to achieve certain goals by a specific age (marriage, financial goals, family responsibilities). Eguavoen, wants to give voice to the impact of Slavery in Africa and its people. The extinction of African traditional values and the growing sensation of religion in Africa, importation of western moral and cultural values. He attended the University of Port Harcourt, where he obtained a Bachelors in Science for Civil Engineering and Structures. In his final year at the university, Matthew decided to pursue his passion for creating art through self-study, where he continued his artistic development. Matthew didn’t start painting till he was 25 years. Matthew ́s works are featured in collections across West Africa, USA, Europe, and North America. 

Education 

Bachelor in Civil Engineering, The University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria 

Select Exhibitions/Awards 

SOLO SHOWS 
2022  
23. PM/AM, London.  
Egbé Okpá. Afikaris, Paris.  
 
GROUP SHOWS  
2023 
Color Coded. BODE Gallery, Berlin  
 
2022 
Voyage. Nothing At All art space, Hong Kong.  
Shout Plenty. Presented by African Artists’ Foundation in collaboration with Alliance Française, Ikoyi.  
Classique! Afikaris, Paris.  
Smiling & Suffering Together (With Onguene Tassi). Out of Africa Gallery, Barcelona.  
What Now? PM/AM, London.  
 
2021 
It’s Not Only a Portrait. Galería Badr El Jundi, Marbella, Málaga.  
40 under 40. WHATIFTHEWORLD X Krone. A collaboration with BMW Young Collectors Co., an initiative of FNB Art Joburg, at Twee Jonge Gezellen wine estate Tulbagh.  
I No Be Gentleman (At All O). ADA, Accra.  
 
MUSEUM SHOW 
2023 
AFRICA SUPERNOVA, KUNSTHAL KADE MUSEUM, Schulting Art Collection, Netherlands 
 
2022 
The New African Portraiture, Shariat Collection, Kunsthalle Krems Museum, Austria 

Gallery Representation 

I do not have a representation at the moment; however, I do actively collaborate with these three (3) Galleries; PM/AM Gallery, London Afikaris Gallery, Paris Badr El Jundi Gallery, Madrid. 

Statement about AOAP Submitted Artwork 

1. Womanhood "In a world where gender roles are constantly in flux and in one that increasingly understands gender and biological sex as two distinct realms, I often find myself wondering about the nature of womanhood. What does it mean to be a woman? We no longer make sense of what it means to be a woman through a set of physical characteristics or personality traits, nor through fixed societal roles. But if being a woman is not determined by these dimensions, is there some other element that is shared by all women?"  
 
2. More like family This piece was created to acknowledge people in my life who have supported and nourished me mentally and emotionally, most especially in my career, and have continually my back one without asking for their act of kindness to be repaid.  
 
3. Sadiq Sadiq is a Social Media friend whom I respect because of how he has continually lived his life without being confined to societal standards. He has continued to be expressional, most especially with issue in relation to gender, and i have used this piece to represent that part of him. 
 

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