Page 86 - UZOMA EKPECHAM Art Collection Vol 1 Updated

Segun Aiyesan

I was born in Benin City, Nigeria on March 18 1971. The second child among seven children. I
guess I was born an artist. My fascination with nature and colours started quite early. I can recall
myself fiddling with drawings and paints as early as four years old. As a young boy, my favourite
hobby was collecting comics and trying to draw the characters. I cannot remember my parents
Untitled helping to develop my talent at any point, so it was particularly difficult for me since I did not get
much encouragement. They, on the other hand tried to steer me in a different direction.
I love art. It propelled me to be better at many other things I had to do alongside, since I was
46 x 33 inches free to indulge in it, as long as nothing else suffered. My folks were glad it kept me busy and
Sam Ebohon Oil on canvas around. I never really realised a living can actually be made from art, so my development was
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actually channelled towards self-fulfilment rather than perpetuating a career direction. I went on
to study Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.
Sam graduated from the Yaba college of Nigeria.While there, I was at the same time keeping myself busy making and enjoying art. I
technology in 1990 with a HND (higher national inadvertently was preparing myself for a life as a professional artist, because by the time I
diploma). In the year 2000 he added another graduated I was quite advanced in skill in artistic depiction. I am a totally self-taught artist and I
degree [TTC] from the Federal college of have been at it professionally since 1996. I am resident and based in Port Harcourt, Nigeria
education [technical] Akoka, Yaba to his list.
Since his graduation, he has braved it
through the years by going straight to studio
practice in which he has excelled having produced Fela
many great and inspiring paintings.
He started his painting career immediately 47.5 x 47.5
after living school without going through the
norm of working for pay in an establishment in Acrylic on canvas
need of his artistic skills. Rather, he started by 2012
using basic knowledge garnered from his
education, formal and informal, to make a living
while experimenting with his paintings in the
hope of a style that stands him out. And that was
exactly what he achieved.
His works are characterized by cress-cross
linear strokes which tend to abstract his paintings
thereby giving it a voice that is refreshingly new in
intensity and boldness coupled with the most
exquisite symphony of vision.
He has collected numerous awards in his
native country and abroad which includes a first
price in the 2009 edition of the Caterina de
Medici painting award and competition which
took place in Florence, Italy. This makes him the
number one in the world in that category. He has
participated in numerous exhibitions around the
world and has had lots of reviews on the print and
electronic media, a few of which are listed below.
Ebohon Sam is 46 years old and married. A
member of the society of Nigerian Artist [ SNA
and the prestigious Guild of Professional Fine
Artists of Nigeria [ GFA ]

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