"I am fully convinced that we shall rise supreme above this situation

- we shall rise if we have the will and courage to dare."

- Uche Okeke, Art in Development, 1982

Christopher Uchefuna Okeke, considered by many to be the Father of Nigerian Modernism, was and remains a figure that shaped the very essence of the art form and movement. Born in Nimo, Nigeria, in 1933, he amassed a wealth of knowledge and experience throughout his life that influenced his practice, philosophy, and sense of self, and encouraged others to do the same. At his heart was a deep reverence for learning - from the new and modern, the historical and ancestral, the familiar and unknown - and it was this reverence that gave ground for the legacy he built. Everything carried something to learn, a story to tell, an important aspect to explore and share. 

Alongside Yusuf Grillo, Simon Okeke, Bruce Onobrakpeya, Demas Nwoko, Oseloka Osadebe, Okechukwu Odita and Felix Ekeada, he founded the Zaria Art Society. This group of like-minded individuals, fondly known as the Zaria Rebels, shared a desire for true freedom of expression, creativity, and knowledge, and would significantly shape not only Nigerian Modernism, but Nigeria and its people as a whole. It was during his time with Zaria that Uche Okeke would begin to form the Natural Synthesis philosophy, which would be further refined, carried forward, and disseminated through the Asele Institute that he created as a haven for those who similarly carried these ideologies and desires. 

Uche Okeke Legacy is the steward that honours, protects, and carries forward this great legacy. We believe that what Uche Okeke and so many others birthed is vital to this history and its continuation, especially in modern times. Through the sharing of stories, building of community, and dissemination of this work, we ensure it will not be forgotten.

Uche Okeke, Primeval Beast, 1961, Painting, 47.9 x 36 Inches. © Uche Okeke Legacy