This lecture explores the life and work of Nigerian artist Ben Enwonwu (1917-1994), a pioneering figure in African Modernism. Tracing his artistic trajectory from the colonial period to post-independence prominence, it examines how Enwonwu challenged Western art-historical narratives while negotiating the intertwined forces of colonialism, nationalism, and modernity. The lecture also highlights his collaborations with cultural practitioners and his lasting influence on successive generations, underscoring his significance within Nigerian, African, and global art history. 

Interlocutor: Dr Joshua I. Cohen (Assoc. Professor, Art History). This event is presented by the Department of Art & Art History in conjunction with the Department of African & African American Studies (DAAAS).

Oliver Enwonwu is a third-generation artist and the son of Professor Ben Enwonwu MBE, Africa’s pioneer modernist, whose legacy he has extensively researched, curated, and championed. His practice and scholarship explore how ancestral knowledge and metaphysical belief systems inform modern and contemporary African art, drawing directly from his father’s artistic philosophy. A leading figure in Nigerian arts and culture, he is founder of The Ben Enwonwu Foundation, publisher of Omenka, and a board member of the Lagos Biennial.

Dr. Joshua I. Cohen is a historian of modern art specializing in postcolonial, African and diasporic modernisms, with research spanning Africa, Europe, the Caribbean, and the United States. He is the author of The “Black Art” Renaissance: African Sculpture and Modernism across Continents and co-editor of a special issue of ARTMargins on postcolonial art history. His current research focuses on African modernism, decolonization, and the Cold War. He is Associate Professor of Art History at Stanford University.