Okoye Chukwuemeka John is a Nigerian based artist, born on the 13th of January 1997. He studied art at the University of Uyo, Uyo Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Being a realistic painter has always made him feel he has a voice even when he is not there to speak about his art. He sees his art as a voice for himself and all those who cannot voice how they feel. He uses thin and thick layers of paint to create illusions of people’s emotions, through their facial expressions and body gestures. His preferred mediums of expression are oil on canvas and charcoal on paper.

Okoye Emeka trained under the realist master Dennis Ani. Okoye’s debut group exhibition occurred in the fall of 2022, at Mitochondria Gallery, where he garnered attention from art critics and collectors from North America to Asia, and beyond. This led to his first museum exhibition at the Charles H Wright Museum of African American History, Detroit, Michigan. Okoye’s artistic recognition continued to blossom as he was selected as one of the standout emerging artists to participate in the Thurgood Marshall College Fund benefit (Fall, 2022) which featured renowned artists such as Sam Gilliam, David Hockney, Roy Lichtenstein, Sarah Slappey, Derrick Adams, Kehinde Wiley, Amoako Boafo, and Jeff Koons. His debut sold out solo exhibition “Such is Life” opened at Mitochondria Gallery, on May 13th, 2023.

Works by Okoye are part of private collections across Africa, North America, and Europe such as the prestigious CCH Pounder Collection, Ebert Collection, and Oluwole Omofemi collection.

RESUME
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
Such Is Life. Mitochondria Gallery. Houston, Texas. 2023

MUSEUM EXHIBITIONS
Shared Vision. African American Museum in Philadelphia.
Double ID. Charles H Wright Museum of African American History. Detroit. Michigan.

GROUP EXHIBITIONS
Strength in Unity. Mitochondria Gallery. Houston, TX. 2024.
In tender peaks, grace unfolds. Mitochondria gallery. Houston, Tx. 2024.
Place of Repose. Mitochondria Gallery. Houston, TX. 2023.
Multipolar: NADA Curated by Itzel Vargas Plata. Mexico City. 2023.
Modern and Contemporary African Art. Sotheby’s. London, U.K. 2023.
Thurgood Marshall College Benefit Fund. Artsy. New York. 2022.
Latitudes of Expression. Mitochondria Gallery. Houston, Texas. 2022.

EDUCATION
Bachelor of Arts. University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom. 2021