Anthea Epelle

Self-taught artist Anthea Epelle (b.1972) creates paintings employing mainly oil on canvas. Born in London, England, Anthea schooled in Lagos and Port Harcourt and later studied Fashion, Design and Technology at The London College of Fashion, UK. She is inspired by expressions, texture, patterns, and alignment; all of which are reflective in her abstract and figurative work.

Since taking up painting professionally in 2007, Anthea has defined her creating process and is still evolving with her practice. She explores portraiture to a great degree and close-ups of these expansive faces call for attention. Anthea’s art starts with exploration as she outlines her characters. She enjoys recreating the human face and though she is often drawn to painting women, The Fedora Man 2018 is as glorious. Her use of lines is delicate yet bold ­– they add a vibrancy that is subtly dramatic.

Group exhibitions include Nigeria Our Nigeria at the Presidential Inauguration Exhibition, Abuja (2011), The Contemporaries, at the Wheatbaker Lagos (2015), Women’s Month at Rele Gallery, Lagos (2016) and the Afro Modernism in Abuja (2016). Several of her works have been sold at auction by Arthouse Contemporary.

Anthea is featured in the “Art of Nigerian Women” book by Chukwuemeka, launched in 2016.

Anthea’s forward is “going back”. She wants her art to take her back to her culture, history and roots; in which she plans to translate these on canvas, photography and fashion in a bid to liberate not only the viewer but herself.