Obinna Makata

Obinna Makata was born on 31 March 1981 in Enugu State Nigeria. He graduated in 2007 with a second-class upper degree from the University of Nigeria Nsukka, majoring in sculpture.

Presently, he lives and works in Lagos Nigeria where he is a full-time studio Artist. He has participated in residencies, workshops, seminars, art talks, art fairs, auctions and over 25 group shows since 2007 and a solo exhibition to his credit.

Makata is inspired by everyday life and ever changing culture of his space. In using waste objects in his work, he addresses the issue of consumerism and materialism that have eaten deep into the fabric of society. With these mundane objects, he addresses issues like history, race, modernity, culture, and social values as they relate to today’s Africa. Especially in Lagos, where the line that differentiates them is gradually fading and creating a new culture and new way of life.

Probably more popular with his series of collage works done on paper and canvas with fabric (African textile). Makata started exploring on fabric after noticing the scraps left behind in the trash of his neighbor who works as a tailor. Since then these textiles have featured predominately in his works on canvas and paper. He describes these collages as “broken pieces of African culture” as a response to the omnipresent foreign influence that continues to threaten traditional value systems and artistic processes unique to the continent.

He uses fabric as a metaphor to explore cultural identity and evolving social values in Nigeria. Makata’s mixed media collages combine ink, acrylic, and scraps of Ankara fabric(African textile) to create narratives associated with the common aspects of daily life, including history, socio-cultural issues, and crowded urban environment as they relate to modern-day Africa.