‘Time of Redeemer’ is now, Offoedu-Okeke insists with artworks

…Exhibition opens at LH Prive, reflects on independence

If Fela Anikulapo was to be alive on October 1, 2025, he would have used the occasion of the celebration of Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary to sue for justice, fairness and also task the government on good governance and welfare of the masses.

While Fela, the late legendary Afrobeats founder, could not do that again with music from his grave, Onyema Offoedu-Okeke, an internationally acclaimed Nigerian artist, is doing just that with his art.

Instead of the usual fanfare of October 1, Offoedu-Okeke, a writer and trained architect, unveiled ‘Time of Redeemer’, his latest exhibition, which lend voice to the voiceless, while spotlighting the socio-economic and socio-political realities of the country since gaining independence in 1960.

The gifted artist speaks through each of his 27 works on display at the month-long exhibition, which opened at Truview Arts and Frames Gallery, LH Prive, Ikoyi, Lagos, on October 1, 2025.

Some of the works are: Time of Redeemer, Fire of Change, Wind of Change, Passenger of Fate, Showdowns and Stalemates, Sleepless series, Mass Agitation, Technocracy, Trial of Oligarchy, among others, which are rendered in acrylic on canvas, amid their visually striking sociopolitical commentaries.

Truly, ‘Time of Redeemer’ is a must-see exhibition as Offoedu-Okeke, takes his creative ingenuity a notch higher, while still passing salient messages and speaking for the voiceless.

Also, while at Truview Arts and Frames Gallery, the artist takes the viewers on a journey through color, history, and thought-provoking reflections.

The colourful exploration of Nigeria’s past, the not-too-good present and the very uncertain future are worth appreciating as the works speak for themselves.

Meanwhile, Truview Arts and Frames Gallery, host of the independence exhibition, is excited to present the artist and his enthralling works to the public.

In the gallery statement, the gallery described Offoedu-Okeke’s works as masterful and insightful, amid exploration of the intersection of color, texture, and emotion.

“His style—a fusion of African traditional aesthetics with modern abstract and cubist techniques—is distinguished by bold color palettes, layered in translucent patches that generate vibrancy and rhythm,” the gallery statement read.

“Each work demonstrates his ability to balance abstraction and representation, producing art that is both visually striking and profoundly resonant, often reflecting on cultural, political, and everyday themes.

“We acknowledge the painstaking dedication and time invested in his creative process, evident in the uniqueness of each canvas.

“Truview Arts and Frames Gallery warmly invites you to experience the distinctive and masterful artistry of Onyema Offoedu-Okeke”.

Reflecting on the exhibition during a media parley heralding the ‘Independence’ show, the artist insisted that with whatever expertise one has developed over time, whether in art, law, advocacy, medicine or clergy, he should be able to deploy it to speak to societal issues.

“It is not only in newspapers we have to speak. Like the legendary Fela Kuti, who used his music to confront Nigeria’s political realities, art too must play that role,” he noted.

Also, explaining the rationale for the theme and timing of the exhibition, the artist said that it is sad that, “Nigeria still awaits the arrival of anyone upon whom the attire of typical quintessential political redeemer fits well”.

For him, nothing really has changed since then as the manner of appearance alternates from the most unassuming carriage to the most sophisticated transporter.

Moreover, the mode of appearance cast in paradoxical settings captured in the works such as horse rider, Rolls Royce passenger, among others, underlines concerts of events surrounding such emergence.

Offering details of some of the works, the artist explained that the piece titled ‘Time of Redeemer’ (acrylic on canvas – 48″ X 48″ 2025), depicts a grand entrance of a man on horseback, which is a symbol of hope, power, and sadly the paradox in Nigeria’s search for a true leader.

In “Fire of Change” (acrylic on canvas – 48″ X 48″ 2025), he noted that horses rip through thoroughfare like flames of revolution kindled among disgruntled or awakened masses.

In the work titled “Persistence of Oligarchy” (acrylic on canvas – 48″ X 48″ 2025), the artist used Rolls Royce automobile brand figurative to convey visual power condensed from instances of social political privileges, citation of fiscal might, and the ultimate icon of class distinction.

He noted that despite revolution staged by masses, the elites and oligarchs still plow their controlling instruments through the dense heaps of political placards, rhetoric and subversive postures, even more today.

Curated by Juwon Olusanya, ‘Time of Redeemer’ is sponsored by The Romulus Group, LH Prive, and Truview Arts & Frames Gallery.

It runs for a month from October 1, 2025, at LH Prive, 39F Rumen Road, Off Bourdillon, Ikoyi, Lagos.

Onyema Offoedu-Okeke is an artist, writer, and architect, his impact on Nigeria’s art landscape was immediately palpable upon his arrival in 1994-1995.

His unique drawing and painting methods, informed by architectural logic, geometric sensibilities, and a broad range of intellectual interests, set him apart.

After contributing critical texts to exhibition catalogs and serving as an art column commentator for This Day newspaper from 2006 to 2007, Onyema published his magnum opus, “Artist in Nigeria,” in 2012.

The book was funded by Dr. Adiamo Odaga of the Ford Foundation West Africa and published by 5 Continents Editions, Milan, Italy.

Since then, Onyema has continued to showcase his work, with two notable solo exhibitions: “Homeland Memories” at Temple Muse VI, Lagos, in 2014, and “Substratum: Anatomy of Support System” at the Sachs Art Gallery, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos, in 2024.