Dennis Osadebe
Dennis Osadebe is a Nigerian mixed-media artist, based in Lagos. Osadebe’s vibrant post-pop style is centered around the idea of reimagining Africa through the use of positive, provocative, and progressive imagery and narratives, forging a dialogue where tradition meets invention and innovation. Through juxtaposing elements of the past alongside the present, and utilizing his Nigerian heritage as a starting point, Osadebe places Africa in the context of the future and its limitless possibilities.
With his characteristic use of flattened planes, minimalist geometric shapes, and bold colors, Osadebe works in, what he refers to as a “NEO” visual style; one that is modern, bright, and expressive. Osadebe coined the cultural movement, ‘Neo-Africa’, as a response to deconstruct the limiting, lazy term of ‘African Art’. This encourages people to rebrand tradition in a way that reflects the transforming world.
Osadebe’s process blurs the line between digital and psychical. The digitally composed scenes are elevated by painted adornments of carefully selected areas. This distinct texture change is inherent to the narrative of the work by providing a visual relationship between the processes of the new generation artists and old masters together. Osadebe consequently renders each work as unique, as he removes the possibility for digital reproduction. The references to traditional materials and crafts, such as masks and colorful textiles, are inspired by the historic arts and culture of Osadebe’s home, Nigeria.
Osadebe’s practice is loaded with provocative surrealism, meaningful symbolism, and playful humor, presenting itself as a continuing investigation of the relationship between the traditional and contemporary, with Africa at its forefront.
Country • Nigeria
Medium • Mixed medium.
FIRST EXHIBITION WITH CHRISTOPHER MOLLER GALLERY • 2018
Explore his Work
Previous exhibitions by Dennis Osadebe
2023
DO YOU KNOW HOW TO PRAY, König Galerie, Berlin - Germany. (Solo exhibition.)
INVESTEC CAPE TOWN ART FAIR, Christopher Moller Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa. - Group Exhibition
RMB LATITUDES ART FAIR, Christopher Moller Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa. - Group Exhibition
2022
MODERN MAGIC, König Galerie, London. (Solo exhibition.)
HOPE IS ACTION - A Dennis Osadebe Bronze First, Christopher Moller Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa.
SAFE SPACE, GR Gallery, New York - USA. (Solo exhibition.)
2021
INVESTEC CAPE TOWN ART FAIR | DIGITAL EVENT, Christopher Moller Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa (September) - Group exhibition.
1:54 NEW YORK 2021, Gallery 1957, New York, United States of America (May) – Group exhibition.
SAFE SPACE, GR Gallery, New York, United States of America (February) - Solo exhibition.
INSIDE OUT, The Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Art, New York, United States of America (October - February)
2020
FIGURES OF PLAYFUL REBELLION, Untitled, Art. Miami Beach OVR, Christopher Moller Gallery, United States of America (December) – Solo booth.
NEO LUV, GR Gallery, New York, United States of America (May) – Duo exhibition.
WITHOUT WARNING, Avenue Des Arts, Los Angeles, United States of America (April) – Group exhibition.
Investec Cape Town Art Fair, Christopher Moller Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa (February).
I LIKE HISTORY, BUT I LOVE FICTION, Christopher Moller Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa (January) – Solo exhibition.
2019
TONGUE + CHIC AUCTION, Phillips Auction House, Hong Kong (October).
Complex Con Art Fair, Avenue Des Arts, Long Beach La, United States Of America (October).
FIELD OF DREAMS, Avenue Des Arts, Los Angeles, United States of America (September) – Solo exhibition.
DREAMSTATE, GR Gallery, New York, United States of America (September) – Group exhibition.
WORK. LIFE. BALANCE, Jumee Kim Gallery, Daejon, South Korea (August) – Solo exhibition.
PORTRAIT OF A BRIGHT GENERATION, Galerie Liusa Wang, Paris, France (January) – Solo exhibition.
Investec Cape Town Art Fair, Christopher Moller Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa (February).
A SPECTACULAR NOW, with Evans Mbugua, Circle Gallery, Nairobi, Kenya (February) – Duo exhibition.
2018
REVEALED, Gallery 88, Miami Beach, Florida (December) – Group exhibition.
CU-ULTURE AND TRADITION: SAME EXPERIENCE, DIFFERENT LOCAL, The Koppel Project, London, United Kingdom (October) – Group exhibition.
FNB Joburg Art Fair, Christopher Moller Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa (September).
A STRANGER IN MY HOME, The Other Art Fair by Saatchi, Brooklyn Expo Centre, Brooklyn, New York, United States of America – Solo exhibition.
NEUE WELTEN, Reto Andri Galerie, Zurich, Switzerland (April) – Group exhibition.
2017
ARTOJA, Art Twenty One, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria (December) – Group exhibition.
REMEMBER THE FUTURE, Red Door Gallery, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria (June) – Solo exhibition.
The London Illustration Fair Art Fair, Oxo Wharf, South Bank, London, United Kingdom (December).
The Affordable Art Auction, Kia Showroom, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria (February).
2016
LAGOS LIVING AND WORKING, Heritage Place, Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria (March) – Group exhibition.
FOR THE LOVE OF CARS, Eko Atlantic City, Lagos, Nigeria (January) – Group exhibition.
2015
PLATFORM, Art Twenty One, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria (December) – Group exhibition.
ART POP UP SERIES, IAMISIGO Showroom, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria (September) – Group exhibition.
RELE LOVES, Rele Gallery, Onikan, Lagos (August) – Group exhibition.
2014
Culture Shock, Terra Kulture, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria (December) – Group exhibition.