Uche Okeke

Uche Okeke (1933–2016) was a Nigerian painter, illustrator, sculptor, writer, and teacher who helped shape modern Nigerian art. A founding member of the Zaria Art Society, he developed “Natural Synthesis,” combining Igbo artistic traditions—especially uli—with modern techniques. Through his art, teaching, and cultural institutions, Okeke promoted a distinctly Nigerian visual language rooted in indigenous history and folklore.