Biography
B. 1976, Belgium.
Ibeabuchi grew up in Aba, Abia State, Nigeria. He studied Fine and Applied Arts at the Institute of Management and Technology, Enugu, Nigeria, where he majored in Painting and graduated with Distinction in 1999.
Issues that affect contemporary living largely influence his art. He is always willing to push creative boundaries and enjoys experimenting. He also uses interdisciplinary approaches for his art creations in his search for new experiences. He worked as an Art Director in advertising for 15 years alongside his art practice before going into full-time studio practice. He functions as a Painter, Fashion Illustrator, Muralist, Art Director, Calligraphist, Designer, and volunteers as Chief Coordinator Studio programs for Girl Child Art Foundation, a non-governmental organization.
Crowned the 1st Prize Winner of ART MASTERS CONTEST, Art Vancouver 2019, Ibeabuchi’s art has been understudied and used as cased studies for Project thesis by various University scholars across Nigeria. He is listed in the Smithsonian Institution Libraries Collections. He has exhibited in Nigeria, South Africa, the U.S.A., London, Israel, and Canada.
His works have been part of publications in FASHION: A SECOND LANGUAGE (Shoko Press, London, 2020), WATERCOLOR ARTISTS MAGAZINE (‘Making a Goal’ – April Edition, 2019), MASTERS OF WATERCOLORS (Planeta Muzyki Publishers, Finland, 2018), THE VILLAGER – How Africans Consume Brands (Tracey McDonald Publishers, South Africa, 2018), FASHION ILLUSTRATION AFRICA – A New Generation (Shoko Press, London, 2016), ARTIST OF NIGERIA (5 Continents Edition, Italy, 2021) among many others.
Ibeabuchi lives and maintains his studio in Lagos, Nigeria.
Artist Statement
Issues that affect contemporary living, from the cultural, social, political perspectives within my physical and virtual environment largely inspire my art. This is based on personal life experiences, observations, and concerns as relates to humanity that constantly motivate me to document the impact of these matters in modern times with my creations.
I enjoy employing multidisciplinary approaches to my arts, in my quest for new experiences and to engage my audience. The therapeutic angle of a creative process is highly treasured as it engages my senses and opens me up to new discoveries. My creative practice includes Drawing, Painting, Murals, Fashion illustrations, Art Direction, Calligraphy, Designs.
I engage myself with daily sketches of my mental state or what I see around me. This serves as an exercise to stretch my imaginations, also it’s a way of visual journaling as I continually search for new creative directions.
Ultimately, my goal is to be able to use my art as a crucial tool for social engineering.
– Ibeabuchi Ananaba