September 7 - November 23, 2024
From the Beeville Art Museum:
“The Beeville Art Museum is proud to announce its upcoming exhibition, Ethereal Expressions, featuring works by Kingsley Onyeiwu. The exhibition, running from September 7 to November 23, 2024, will showcase works that blend portraits of the African diaspora with contemporary aesthetics. An artist’s reception on September 7, which is free and open to the public, will provide an opportunity to meet the artist and explore his work firsthand.
Onyeiwu, who grew up in Lagos, Nigeria, immigrated to America at the age of 14. His work is deeply inspired by his African heritage and the immigrant experience. Primarily using pastel and charcoal, he has developed a hyper-realistic and detailed style focused on portraiture. His subjects are often depicted against blank backgrounds and feature symbolic details from his Nigerian heritage. This minimalist approach highlights the narrative of his subjects, inviting viewers to imagine their own environments for the figures. Central to his philosophy is the importance of communication; he aspires for his audience to engage in a meaningful dialogue with his work.
“Kingsley brings incredible talent and a unique perspective with this exhibit,” commented Executive Director Tracy Saucier. “He has a deep appreciation for the techniques of the old masters and brings a modern vision centered on his African heritage.”
Onyeiwu deeply values the artistic process, considering each piece a dynamic conversation with evolving objectives. He meditates on the pivotal question, “How do I make this work?” This reflective approach infuses a poetic and allegorical sentiment into his work, which develops organically as he creates. His artistic journey reflects a disciplined approach, characterized by patience and meticulous progress toward a larger goal. As Onyeiwu states, “I became this artist who fell in love with being patient, taking little steps towards the big goal at the end.”
Kingsley Onyeiwu earned his B.A. from Texas Southern University (TSU), where he was influenced by the works of Dr. John Biggers, Kermit Oliver, and Robert Pruitt. He earned his M.A. in Painting from Houston Baptist University (HBU), since renamed Houston Christian University. In 2018, Onyeiwu participated in the “2018 Master of Fine Arts Thesis Exhibition” at HBU. In 2017, he participated in “Rising Eyes of Texas” at the Rockport Center for the Arts in Rockport, TX and received the 1st place award. In addition, in 2017, he also took part in the “Citywide African American Artists Exhibition” at TSU, where he was awarded 2nd place. Kingsley Onyeiwu resides in Houston, where he currently teaches art at TSU.
Kingsley Onyeiwu: Ethereal Expressions will be on display September 7 – November 23, 2024, at the Beeville Art Museum, 401 E. Fannin, Beeville, TX, 78102. The museum is open to the public 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Saturday. Admission is always free. To contact the museum, please call 361-358-8615 or visit www.bamtexas.org.
The Beeville Art Museum, created and operated by the Joe Barnhart Foundation, is first and foremost a teaching museum, providing cultural and educational opportunities for the citizens of Bee County and surrounding areas. Beeville, with a population of approximately 13,000, is home to one of the most ambitious art and educational programs in Texas. In addition to exhibiting works by some of Texas’s most renowned artists, as well as selections from private collections and major museums across the state, the Beeville Art Museum provides docent-led tours and art classes for children and adults and workshops for Beeville educators at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.”
On View: September 7, 2024 | 10 am – 2 pm
401 East Fannin
Beeville, 78104 TX
(361) 358-8615
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