REUBEN UGBINE
b. 1956, Anponya, Ghana Lives and worked in Lagos, Nigeria Reuben Ugbine was a Nigerian sculptor known for his masterful carvings, dynamic forms, and ability to translate human experience into visual narratives. He studied at Auchi Polytechnic, earning an Ordinary National Diploma in General Art and the Principal’s Prize as best student, and later obtained a Higher National Diploma in Sculpture from Yaba College of Technology. He began his career as a lecturer before transitioning fully into studio practice in the late 1980s. Over more than two decades, Ugbine worked with materials such as ebony and iroko wood, terracotta, and metal, producing works that explored Nigerian life, traditional costumes, and cultural identity. His sculptures, including “Dancing Figure” and “Acrobat,” are celebrated for their kinetic energy and spiritual depth. Ugbine exhibited extensively in Nigeria and internationally, including Ghana, Lebanon, Germany, the Netherlands, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. In 2018, his work was acquired by the British Museum. He was a member of the Society of Nigerian Artists and the Guild of Professional Fine Artists of Nigeria. Following his passing in 2021, his legacy was honored in the posthumous exhibition Monuments of the Soul in Lagos (2024), reaffirming his place as a leading figure in contemporary African sculpture.
b. 1956, Anponya, Ghana Lives and worked in Lagos, Nigeria Reuben Ugbine was a Nigerian sculptor known for his masterful carvings, dynamic forms, and ability to translate human experience into visual narratives. He studied at Auchi Polytechnic, earning an Ordinary National Diploma in General Art and the Principal’s Prize as best student, and later obtained a Higher National Diploma in Sculpture from Yaba College of Technology. He began his career as a lecturer before transitioning fully into studio practice in the late 1980s. Over more than two decades, Ugbine worked with materials such as ebony and iroko wood, terracotta, and metal, producing works that explored Nigerian life, traditional costumes, and cultural identity. His sculptures, including “Dancing Figure” and “Acrobat,” are celebrated for their kinetic energy and spiritual depth. Ugbine exhibited extensively in Nigeria and internationally, including Ghana, Lebanon, Germany, the Netherlands, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. In 2018, his work was acquired by the British Museum. He was a member of the Society of Nigerian Artists and the Guild of Professional Fine Artists of Nigeria. Following his passing in 2021, his legacy was honored in the posthumous exhibition Monuments of the Soul in Lagos (2024), reaffirming his place as a leading figure in contemporary African sculpture.
