In spring 2005, the Museum of London ran a small exhibition on the art of Uzo Egonu (1931-1996). It explored the life, landmarks, decline and hope of London in all its grandeur. Egonu came to Britain from Nigeria in 1945. During the next fifty years, he established a successful international career as an artist of great innovation and lyrical style.
Egonu's images of Londoners and urban landscapes feature exquisite patterning, vibrant colour and hidden meanings. Drawing on European modernism and the traditions of West African art, his paintings explore bold universal themes, from the pain of displaced people to the realities of urban living. Egonu re-interprets London as a truly international city.
Logo of Uzo Egonu exhibition
The exhibition included a talk by Dr Gus Casely-Hayford talks on the influence of African art and artists on Western art practise and how Black British Artists have contextualised that relationship in their work. The transcript of his talk is at the bottom of this page.
