[Houston, TX, May 29, 2024] – Mitochondria Gallery, an advocate for artists from Africa and its diaspora, is thrilled to unveil its upcoming duo exhibition “Strength in Unity,” featuring new paintings by Nigerian artists, Odeyemi Oluwaseun and Okoye Chukwuemeka John. This exhibition is on view from June 1st through June 22nd 2024.
Image courtesy of Mitochondria Gallery
Exhibition Statement
Strength in Unity is an exploration of the collective power found in coming together. In an era defined by division and individualism, this exhibition seeks to celebrate the unifying force that emerges when two individuals join hands. Utilizing figurative paintings, these artists’ works highlight the resilience, solidarity, and transformative potential inherent in unity.
The exhibition is grounded in the belief that unity is not merely a social or political concept but a deeply human one. It delves into the myriad ways in which unity manifests itself—through cultural traditions, social movements, activism, and personal relationships. Each artwork is a testament to the idea that our collective strength is greater than the sum of our individual parts.
By bringing these two artists together, the exhibition not only showcases artistic expressions of unity but also seeks to inspire a collective commitment to building a more united, resilient, and compassionate society.
Event Details
Exhibition Title: Strength in Unity
Opening Reception: June 1st, 2024. 7- 9PM
Public viewing: June 1st to June 22nd, 2024.
Location: Mitochondria Gallery, 2220 Commerce Street, #D, Houston, TX. 77002
About Okoye Chukwuemeka John
Okoye Chukwuemeka John (b. 1997) is a Nigerian based painter, he studied art at the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State Nigeria. He uses art as a voice for himself and all those who can’t voice their feelings. He employs thin and thick layers of paint to create illusions of people’s emotions, through their facial expressions and body gestures. His preferred medium of expression is oil on canvas.
Okoye’s debut group exhibition occurred in the fall of 2022, at Mitochondria Gallery, where he garnered attention from art critics and collectors from North America to Asia, and beyond. This led to his first Museum exhibition “Double ID” (2024) at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American Art History, Detroit Michigan. His debut solo exhibition “Such is Life” at Mitochondria Gallery (2023), also received major attention and excitement internationally.
About Odeyemi Oluwaseun
Odeyemi Oluwaseun (b.1989) is a figurative painter based in Lagos, Nigeria. Odeyemi’s artistic language involves the use of noncontinuous lines, that intersect in an anisotropic arrangement. He employs conte crayons to create depth, layers, light, and texture on the skin of his subjects, in a manner that creates a tonality that is visually exclusive to Odeyemi’s work. The anisotropy in the arrangement of the colors on the skin of his subjects is always unique to the specific work and an ode to individuality.
His combination of wet and dry media across each painting is a skill Odeyemi Oluwaseun thrives in executing. The muses in his work range from people who have played an integral part in life, to people from his locality and others who have inspired him from afar. Works by Odeyemi Oluwaseun are in public collections in North America, Asia, Africa, and Europe
About Mitochondria Gallery
Mitochondria Gallery is based in east downtown Houston, Texas. Established in 2019, with an exhibition program focused on showcasing some of the brightest mid-level and emerging artists from Africa and the African diaspora. The program’s goals are to educate and further expand the global public awareness of contemporary African art. The gallery aims to enlarge the platform available to these talented artists by championing, nurturing, and enhancing their artistic practices through a dedicated in-house residency program, international art fairs, philanthropy, off-site projects, and Museum exhibitions. Multiple artists nurtured through Mitochondria Gallery have exhibited and are included in permanent collections in major international museums.
Press Contact
Timi | info@mitochondriagallery.com | 832.271.0193
