Published 26 September 2024 in The Work
Uche Okeke Legacy Editorial
Uche Okeke’s Crucifixion Series and Portrait of Kwame Nkrumah is up for auction in Bonhams Modern & Contemporary African Art.
This is Bonhams autumn auction for 2024, and features an exceptional selection of pieces from Modern and Contemporary artists across Africa. Alongside Uche Okeke is Ben Enwonwu, Esther Mahlangu, who will feature a mural at Frieze London later this month, Gerard Sekoto, Marlene Dumas and William Kentridge.
Crucifixion Series
Uche Okeke was exposed to stained-glass and learnt the skill during his time in Munich, where he created Fourteen Stations of the Cross for the St Peter's Catholic Church chapel, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. When he returned from Germany and became the Art Director of the Mbari Art Centre, Enugu, in 1963, he was struck by a creative fervour to depict the Passion of Christ, which became a recurring theme in his work.