Oghenero Osiobe Ejenavi (born 1990) popularly known as NERO, Pronounced (ner-ror), also known as, [1]Artistrybynero, is a Nigerian artist, Muralist, Musician, Harmonica Guru, and Entrepreneur. He is best known for creating afro folk style paintings. Working primarily with acrylic, he uses his works as a medium to tell African stories. His works re-create folklore, legends, cultural and historical figures that are long forgotten by modernity and history.
Early life
Nero was born in the February 12 1990 in Ughelli, delta state, to a Nigeria Engineer father and a trader mother. For him, art was a childhood habit that came and never went away. As a child, he often drew on all his school books, that became frustrating to his father who often gave him a swipe every time for it, but later gave him a sketchbook to help separate his Art from school work. He stated this, in an interview with "Mike Mesikenor" on the popular Nigerian Tv show called wakeup Nigeria on TVC[2] in Lagos. He holds a B.A in international relations from Houdegbe north American university republic of Benin, and a diploma in library and information science from the prestigious university of Benin, Nigeria.
Style of Art
In the past years, without any formal training, Nero has experimented with various art styles and medium, moving from Realism, Hyperrealism, Pointillism to a more focus story telling Art style which he describes as AFRO FOLK ART. Borrowing elements from the rich African historical and cultural Heritage, folklore creating alluring illustrations with a consistent use of vibrant colours, and interwoven lines. Oghenero whose experimenting painting infuses elements of folk art, exploring identifiable historical fables, motif and folklores drawn from diverse indigenous African cultures and heritage. Re-creating folklore, legends, cultural and historical figures that are long forgotten by modernity and history. Osiobe uses acrylic paint with an eclectic hue of colors that coalesce with each other and the interplay of lines that play with theme around the need for cultural preservation and heritage.
Exhibitions
- Galeria de Arte Aries, Spain July 2021.
- International Online Exhibition, Galeria de Arte Aries, Spain July 2022.
- International Online Nirantaar Art exhibition, India September 2021.
- XART Art exhibition, Turkey September 2021.
- The Opening Exhibition at Vivid Exclusive Art Gallery, Lagos, Nigeria August 2021
- Dreams Group Exhibition vivid exclusive art Gallery, Lagos, Nigeria October 2019.
- International Virtual Exhibition Tagged National Flower Day May 2023. .
Reference
- ^ "Nero Osiobe (@artistrybynero) • Instagram photos and videos". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2023-08-11.
- ^ I Started Drawing At The Age Of 5 With The Help Of My Dad, retrieved 2023-08-11