Ozioma Onuzulike
Ozioma Onuzulike (born 1972 in Achi, Enugu State, Nigeria) is a Nigerian ceramic artist, poet, art historian, and scholar whose work bridges material practice, cultural critique, and socio‑political reflection. His art is internationally recognised for its conceptual depth and intricate materiality, often exploring themes such as colonialism, political turmoil, migration, and environmental issues through ceramics and mixed media.
Onuzulike graduated First Class Honours from the Department of Fine and Applied Arts at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, where he later completed an MFA (2001) and PhD in Art History (2007). He has remained deeply connected to the institution, serving as a professor of ceramic art and African art history and as Director of the Institute of African Studies.
His artistic practice is rooted in material traditions and conceptual metaphors derived from African life and history. Onuzulike frequently uses locally sourced clay, recycled glass, palm kernel shells, yam forms, and honeycombs to create works that resonate with cultural symbolism, historical memory, and socio‑economic narratives. His large‑scale works, especially those woven from thousands of ceramic beads, evoke West African textile traditions while addressing broader global issues.Onuzulike has exhibited widely, including solo shows at the Centre for Contemporary Art (CCA), Lagos (2019) and MARC STRAUS Gallery, New York (2023), and his works have appeared in major institutional contexts such as the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, University of Cambridge.
His work is held in numerous public collections worldwide, including the Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art (Lagos), Princeton University Art Museum, and the Hudson Valley Museum of Contemporary Art. Onuzulike has also been recognised through prestigious fellowships and residencies, such as at the Civitella Ranieri Centre in Italy and awards including an African Humanities Postdoctoral Fellowship from the ACLS.
