b. 1963, Lagos, Nigeria Lives and works in Lagos, Nigeria Alex Nwokolo is one of West Africa’s leading colorists and multimedia painters, known for his experimental approach and layered urban narratives. He holds a Higher National Diploma in General Arts from Auchi Polytechnic, receiving both the American Ambassador’s Award and the Rector’s Excellence Award. He later earned an MFA from the University of Benin. Over a career spanning more than three decades, Nwokolo has developed a distinctive practice that fuses painting with mixed media. His works incorporate impasto techniques, collage, recycled materials, corrugated steel, and other unconventional textures. From expressive portraits to cityscapes, cathedrals, forests, and rooftop vistas, his art explores the complexity of Nigerian urban life with cinematic rhythm and emotional intensity. Nwokolo’s acclaimed Oju (Face) series exemplifies his visual language—featuring dense palette-knife strokes, newspaper collage, and a heightened sense of texture and gaze. Eschewing traditional perspective, his compositions rely on bold color, repetition, and abstraction to communicate psychological depth and social commentary. A prolific exhibitor, Nwokolo has shown at major art fairs and institutions including Omenka Gallery, SMO Contemporary Art, Aria Art Gallery (London), and Hourglass Gallery. Through his practice, he continues to bridge traditional and contemporary Nigerian art, expanding the boundaries of form, material, and meaning.