O'DA Art
Water carried us here, Water will carry us away | Gerald Chukwuma
Water carried us here, Water will carry us away | Gerald Chukwuma
Water carried us here, Water will carry us away | Gerald Chukwuma
O'DA Art presents a solo exhibition titled, 'Water carried us here, water will carry us away' featuring works of profound artist, Gerald Chukwuma. Gerald Chukwuma’s new body of work is inspired by the legend of ‘The Igbo Landing’, the mass suicide in 1803 by captive Igbo people who took control of the slave ship they were on, and refused to submit to slavery in Georgia, United States. The bravery has inspired African American folklore and culture particularly in the American South. By contrast in Nigeria, little appears in public records of ‘The Igbo Landing’. Chukwuma has explored this historic event through portraiture and watercolour abstraction in The Wrinkle Series and Index Series respectively. “We should also look at the possibilities of what that history gave to us and what better things it can bring for us because it will continue to evolve”, says Chukwuma displaying the need for audacity in art, the importance of storytelling and oral histories, the legacies of the Atlantic Slavery Trade, memory, cultural continuity and the evolution of artistic identity.
O'DA Art presents a solo exhibition titled, 'Water carried us here, water will carry us away' featuring works of profound artist, Gerald Chukwuma. Gerald Chukwuma’s new body of work is inspired by the legend of ‘The Igbo Landing’, the mass suicide in 1803 by captive Igbo people who took control of the slave ship they were on, and refused to submit to slavery in Georgia, United States. The bravery has inspired African American folklore and culture particularly in the American South. By contrast in Nigeria, little appears in public records of ‘The Igbo Landing’. Chukwuma has explored this historic event through portraiture and watercolour abstraction in The Wrinkle Series and Index Series respectively. “We should also look at the possibilities of what that history gave to us and what better things it can bring for us because it will continue to evolve”, says Chukwuma displaying the need for audacity in art, the importance of storytelling and oral histories, the legacies of the Atlantic Slavery Trade, memory, cultural continuity and the evolution of artistic identity.
O'DA Art presents a solo exhibition titled, 'Water carried us here, water will carry us away' featuring works of profound artist, Gerald Chukwuma. Gerald Chukwuma’s new body of work is inspired by the legend of ‘The Igbo Landing’, the mass suicide in 1803 by captive Igbo people who took control of the slave ship they were on, and refused to submit to slavery in Georgia, United States. The bravery has inspired African American folklore and culture particularly in the American South. By contrast in Nigeria, little appears in public records of ‘The Igbo Landing’. Chukwuma has explored this historic event through portraiture and watercolour abstraction in The Wrinkle Series and Index Series respectively. “We should also look at the possibilities of what that history gave to us and what better things it can bring for us because it will continue to evolve”, says Chukwuma displaying the need for audacity in art, the importance of storytelling and oral histories, the legacies of the Atlantic Slavery Trade, memory, cultural continuity and the evolution of artistic identity.
O'DA Art presents a solo exhibition titled, 'Water carried us here, water will carry us away' featuring works of profound artist, Gerald Chukwuma. Gerald Chukwuma’s new body of work is inspired by the legend of ‘The Igbo Landing’, the mass suicide in 1803 by captive Igbo people who took control of the slave ship they were on, and refused to submit to slavery in Georgia, United States. The bravery has inspired African American folklore and culture particularly in the American South. By contrast in Nigeria, little appears in public records of ‘The Igbo Landing’. Chukwuma has explored this historic event through portraiture and watercolour abstraction in The Wrinkle Series and Index Series respectively. “We should also look at the possibilities of what that history gave to us and what better things it can bring for us because it will continue to evolve”, says Chukwuma displaying the need for audacity in art, the importance of storytelling and oral histories, the legacies of the Atlantic Slavery Trade, memory, cultural continuity and the evolution of artistic identity.




Gerald Chukwuma, Gallery 1957.
Gerald Chukwuma, Gallery 1957.


Water carried us here, Water will carry us away | Gerald Chukwuma
Water carried us here, Water will carry us away | Gerald Chukwuma
Gerald Chukwuma is a Nigerian contemporary artist renowned for his intricate sculptures on wood panels. Based in Lagos, he graduated with First Class Honours from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, in 2003. Chukwuma’s work merges traditional Igbo aesthetics with contemporary themes, utilizing techniques like burning, chiseling, and painting to create deeply textured, multi-layered pieces. His art incorporates Uli and Nsibidi symbols, linking him to the Nsukka art tradition while addressing personal and political narratives. By transforming found objects into intricate artworks, he explores themes of migration, identity, and environmental change, positioning himself at the forefront of Africa’s evolving artistic landscape. Solo Exhibitions include: A Place W h e r e Everything Becomes a Possibility, Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, Palm Beach, Florida, USA (2024); Homeostasis, Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, London, UK (2023); Captured in Time, Gallery 1957, Gallery II, Accra, Ghana (2022); Eclipse of the Scrolls, Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, London (2021).
Gerald Chukwuma is a Nigerian contemporary artist renowned for his intricate sculptures on wood panels. Based in Lagos, he graduated with First Class Honours from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, in 2003. Chukwuma’s work merges traditional Igbo aesthetics with contemporary themes, utilizing techniques like burning, chiseling, and painting to create deeply textured, multi-layered pieces. His art incorporates Uli and Nsibidi symbols, linking him to the Nsukka art tradition while addressing personal and political narratives. By transforming found objects into intricate artworks, he explores themes of migration, identity, and environmental change, positioning himself at the forefront of Africa’s evolving artistic landscape. Solo Exhibitions include: A Place W h e r e Everything Becomes a Possibility, Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, Palm Beach, Florida, USA (2024); Homeostasis, Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, London, UK (2023); Captured in Time, Gallery 1957, Gallery II, Accra, Ghana (2022); Eclipse of the Scrolls, Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, London (2021).
Gerald Chukwuma is a Nigerian contemporary artist renowned for his intricate sculptures on wood panels. Based in Lagos, he graduated with First Class Honours from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, in 2003. Chukwuma’s work merges traditional Igbo aesthetics with contemporary themes, utilizing techniques like burning, chiseling, and painting to create deeply textured, multi-layered pieces. His art incorporates Uli and Nsibidi symbols, linking him to the Nsukka art tradition while addressing personal and political narratives. By transforming found objects into intricate artworks, he explores themes of migration, identity, and environmental change, positioning himself at the forefront of Africa’s evolving artistic landscape. Solo Exhibitions include: A Place W h e r e Everything Becomes a Possibility, Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, Palm Beach, Florida, USA (2024); Homeostasis, Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, London, UK (2023); Captured in Time, Gallery 1957, Gallery II, Accra, Ghana (2022); Eclipse of the Scrolls, Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, London (2021).
O’DA is a Contemporary Art Gallery based in Lagos, Nigeria. Established in 2020, we specialise in the work of Contemporary Art & Design from across the African continent and its diaspora. Bridging the gap between local and international audiences, our gallery is committed to championing mid- career and established artists, whilst celebrating multi-faceted designers who explore a wide range of themes such as; identity, technology, political commentary, social consciousness and environmental change. With “beauty” at the epicentre of our gallery vision, we strive to showcase timeless exhibitions by fusing art and interior design to create an immersive environment for our audiences. With a continuous programme of sublime exhibitions, installations and performances, the gallery aims to foster global partnerships, expand a gallery residency programme and welcome art professionals to contemporary West African art practices.
O’DA is a Contemporary Art Gallery based in Lagos, Nigeria. Established in 2020, we specialise in the work of Contemporary Art & Design from across the African continent and its diaspora. Bridging the gap between local and international audiences, our gallery is committed to championing mid- career and established artists, whilst celebrating multi-faceted designers who explore a wide range of themes such as; identity, technology, political commentary, social consciousness and environmental change. With “beauty” at the epicentre of our gallery vision, we strive to showcase timeless exhibitions by fusing art and interior design to create an immersive environment for our audiences. With a continuous programme of sublime exhibitions, installations and performances, the gallery aims to foster global partnerships, expand a gallery residency programme and welcome art professionals to contemporary West African art practices.
O’DA is a Contemporary Art Gallery based in Lagos, Nigeria. Established in 2020, we specialise in the work of Contemporary Art & Design from across the African continent and its diaspora. Bridging the gap between local and international audiences, our gallery is committed to championing mid- career and established artists, whilst celebrating multi-faceted designers who explore a wide range of themes such as; identity, technology, political commentary, social consciousness and environmental change. With “beauty” at the epicentre of our gallery vision, we strive to showcase timeless exhibitions by fusing art and interior design to create an immersive environment for our audiences. With a continuous programme of sublime exhibitions, installations and performances, the gallery aims to foster global partnerships, expand a gallery residency programme and welcome art professionals to contemporary West African art practices.
O’DA is a Contemporary Art Gallery based in Lagos, Nigeria. Established in 2020, we specialise in the work of Contemporary Art & Design from across the African continent and its diaspora. Bridging the gap between local and international audiences, our gallery is committed to championing mid- career and established artists, whilst celebrating multi-faceted designers who explore a wide range of themes such as; identity, technology, political commentary, social consciousness and environmental change. With “beauty” at the epicentre of our gallery vision, we strive to showcase timeless exhibitions by fusing art and interior design to create an immersive environment for our audiences. With a continuous programme of sublime exhibitions, installations and performances, the gallery aims to foster global partnerships, expand a gallery residency programme and welcome art professionals to contemporary West African art practices.
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Material Memory | Anthony Azekwoh, Gbemileke Adekunle, & Saheed Adelakun
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Memory is not static. It is tactile, layered, and ever-shifting; etched into the surfaces of our lives through material, texture, and form. Material Memory brings together the works of Anthony Azekwoh, Gbemileke Adekunle, and Saheed Adelakun, three artists who engage deeply with the physicality of memory, using material as both a medium and a metaphor for personal and collective histories.
Memory is not static. It is tactile, layered, and ever-shifting; etched into the surfaces of our lives through material, texture, and form. Material Memory brings together the works of Anthony Azekwoh, Gbemileke Adekunle, and Saheed Adelakun, three artists who engage deeply with the physicality of memory, using material as both a medium and a metaphor for personal and collective histories.