Obinna Makata (B.1981, Nigeria) obtained a degree from the University of Nigeria Nsukka, majoring in Sculpting. As a Lagos-Based Artist, his works create narrative associations that deal with cultural issues in Contemporary Nigerian society; including, cultural appropriation from the west and the lack of social infrastructure. Crudely sketched with ink and acrylic, Makata combines scraps of Ankara fabric to form the bodies and backgrounds of his figures. Possessing a captivating mythic quality where vivid strokes of acrylic and ink are intertwined with ankara fabric, Makata creates a visual metaphor for a fractured cultural identity where evolving social values continue to fragment cultural structures. With this new body of work, which he coined as “African Test-Styles”, Makata responds to the omnipresence of foreign influences that continue to threaten traditional value systems and artistic processes on the continent.

Based in Lagos, he has completed artist residencies at the Matadero Museum in Madrid, African Artists’ Foundation in Lagos and Thought Pyramid Art Centre in Abuja.

Solo Exhibitions include Meta History. African Artist Foundation Nigeria. Lagos (2012).

Group Exhibitions include Culture Cargo, Artlink, Frankfurt, Germany (2019); New York Art Expo, New York, (2018); ArtX Art fair Lagos (2018); We buy Quality, Matadero, Madrid spain (2017); Identities. Denk Space, Abuja (2017); Strength in unity. Moeshen, Beirut (2017); Breaking News. Art Twenty One, Lagos (2016); Platform. Art 21 Lagos (2015); We are Love. Goethe institute Lagos (2014); New Conversations. Thought Pyramid Art Centre, Abuja (2014); The Mega City and Non City. Lagos Photos 2013, Ocean View Eko Hotel and Suite Laogs (2013); Blank Canvas. Art Twenty One Lagos (2013); The Maker. New Contemporary, African Artists foundation, Lagos (2013); Joburg Art Fair. South Africa (2013); Nigeria Now, New emerging trend of contemporary art in Nigeria. Miami (2012)