From February 24 to March 16, 2024, sculptor and visual artist, Reuben Ugbine’s works, Monuments of the Soul, will be on show at O’DA Art gallery in Victoria Island, Lagos.
Ugbine, a leading post-war and contemporary sculptor, lived and worked in Benin, where he mastered the art of carving and sculpting using materials such as wood, terracotta and metal railings.
With identity at the centre of his sculptural work, he was able to explore and demonstrate the possibilities of the human body as a means to demonstrate the nature of our being.
Presenting 25 works that span over two decades of Ugbine’s art career, this exhibition captures the evolution of his intricate woodcarvings and sculpting technique from 1998 to the present day.
Born to Nigeria parents in Anponya, Ghana, in 1956, he attended Auchi Polytechnic in 1976, where he received an Ordinary National Diploma and the Principal’s prize for the overall best student. He later received a HND in sculpture from Yaba College of Technology in 1979 and became an instructor and lecturer at Auchi Polytechnic, Nigeria, an appointment he held between 1980 and 1987 before retiring to a full-time studio practice.
Throughout his career, Ugbine designed and executed several carvings using ebony and iroko wood, terracotta, metal railings and other materials for crafting his sculptures.
He participated in several in solo and group shows across Africa and internationally including, The 2013 Aabru Art London Group show, Transcending Boundaries, the 2018 ArtHouse Contemporary Auction Evening and the 2019 Material Times group show at Rele Gallery, Lagos. His work was also acquired by the British Museum, UK in 2018.
Ugbine was a member of Society of Nigeria (SNA) and the Guild of Professional Fine Artists of Nigeria (GFA). He is survived by his wife Perpetual, his three sons and daughter; Ogaga, Karo, Kome and Jessica.
