Chukwuemeka Anthony Chukwu at VillageOneArt presents a solo show of new works by the artist that offers exciting avenues of exploration in contemporary painting.

These compositions adopt a variety of materials and processes combined in this body of work exploring themes ranging from architecture to gaming, media to engineering, through the lens of the African diaspora.

Chukwuemeka Anthony Chukwu builds powerful abstracted compositions by emphasizing bold hues and contrasting tones across the picture plane, utilizing a combination of curvilinear forms and geometric abstraction to entice the viewer. This show offers the viewer mysterious yet intriguing juxtapositions in these compositions, approximating geometric structures defining material spaces, as occurs with architecture, and ethereal, subtle nuances in tone referencing non-material spaces, like those found in the world of gaming. The playful color contrasts and strong compositional elements in works on view reinforce a sense of visual harmony.

In “Odd Straw,” the artist offers a simplified scene with a title that hints at a still life composition. The colors are Fauvist in approach: bold, bright tones presented against a subtler background of earth tones grounding the volume of space. In mounting a direct approach to line and color, the viewer can slowly take the whole of the artwork in and recognize careful details. As the artist notes, studies in architecture have allowed Chukwuemeka Anthony Chukwu to “…take a deeper dive into moments of the work and tell of my understanding of elements in the work and what makes them tick.”

This solo show occurs at the intersection of the artist’s technical prowess and a deep, abiding vision of subject matter, presented in a cohesive and thoughtful suite of works on view at VillageOneArt through June 29, 2023.

Chukwuemeka Anthony Chukwu (B. 1998, Nigeria) continuously bridges disciplines from his upbringing, critical interests of gaming, technology, culture and architecture. He primarily paints and makes a selective addition of complimentary media like tapes, collage with moments of them applied to 3D elements , at times, does a bit of storytelling of mini experiences. His work may be charged with and spark discussions surrounding race, housing developments and how they intersect with his reality. He envisions complimentary to the very intuitive creative processes arrived at.

Emeka moved from Nigeria in 2016 to study architecture at Maryland Institute College of art and pursued his MFA at School of Visual Arts, NY. He has exhibited extensively throughout the United States including, Community College of Baltimore County, a solo exhibition at Catonsville gallery 'Inside the Cadmus', and a solo show in Eubie Blake Cultural Center Baltimore MD. A selection of group exhibitions include, CulturalDC and Villageoneart. Additionally, his work has been acquired by one of Baltimore’s premier law firms Gordon Feinblatt LLC. He’s been featured in a Nigerian News Publication, and Vanguard News upon the opening of his solo show at the Baltimore community college.