ibe ananaba

Speaking to presence as an act of consciousness in today's world where the proudly melanated being constantly navigate visibility, displacement, memory, and reinvention. The figure becomes both witness and participant, carrying ancestral echoes while confronting the psychological weight of contemporary existence. From a vantage view and introspection, this piece probes on what it means to remain culturally grounded within rapidly shifting social and urban scapes. Here, presence is beyond mere passive visibility. Presence becomes a bold and deliberate assertion of selfhood, against all odds, and of course, with layers of memories. From THE OBSERVER series (3) Acrylic on canvas 36 x 36 in. ©ibeananaba 2018

Somethings just know how to get thru to your heART

It was a great experience at the artist reception of Voices Through Art. Such an incredible evening filled with energy, warmth, and a truly global creative spirit. Grateful to be part of a powerful gathering of artists whose works came together in Boston for the @foleyandlardner –sponsored exhibition, in collaboration with the Boys & Girls Club and the @mfaboston -Museum of Fine Arts, in honour of the Black Law Student Association of Suffolk University' @suls_blsa . It felt like a communal exchange of ideas and cultures. Huge appreciation to #LynnLesieur for the warm invitation and amazing curation of such a memorable night. A big shoutout to fellow participating artists and friends who showed up regardless of the distance. Also, a big shoutoutto @honeiee on her #ChroniclesOfOri book launch!

Life mimicking art. You Can't Tell Me Nothing! Kanye & his team read #BLACK BOY, BLACK BOY. It's super interesting how a page from the book comes to life on @ye 's incredible stage in LA, brilliantly made by @austaylor . Such a powerful reminder of how creative visions can honor, elevate, and dignify the stories we tell. Proud to see contemporary Afro-global culture reflected in groundbreaking performance. @angelabowdenns , Glad we made it. #BLACK BOY, BLACK BOY's live on a global stage #IbeAnanaba #AfroGlobalCulture #IllustrationMeetsReality

As His love endured the unbearable.. 'For Your sake' (2008) Ballpoint pen on watercolor paper 22 x 30 inches #IbeAnanaba

Welcome to a new day Relish the sweetness of the fresh air. Welcome to a new realm An unmasked dawn with joyous new beginnings Welcome to a new era Where all hopes, tall dreams and ambitions abound Welcome to a new stage Rock to the beats of incredibly new possibilities Welcome to new heights Spread your wings and soar in frenzy Welcome to a new phase Let your beautiful heart scream in excitement Welcome to a new lane With all gladness bid your gloom goodbye Welcome to a new zone Defiantly take the glee to greater heights Welcome to a new space Pout your mouth and kiss the new light! -Ibe Ananaba 2020 'JOY COMES IN THE MORNING' Charcoal and acrylic on archival paper 3.8 x 8 feet Engaging self in a deep search for hope during the global Covid-19 lockdown, this work emerges through an experimental process. Working with charcoal and acrylic at an expansive scale, I push the language of drawing to evoke the persistence of optimism through a rhythmic interplay of figures in motion.

October 2021. I was out there feeling the pulse and making visual notes of my observations on my good ol' sketch pad @lagosfashionweekofficial as part of my research on contemporary African culture. Prior to that, Godson-@godsonukaegbu and I had earlier in the day, seen @iamisigo 's brilliant eco-friendly 'Green Water, Blue Forest' show at the Independence House, Lagos Island, alongside an insightful fashionart-related conversation as usual, before heading over to catch up on the day 2 show of the Lagos Fashion Week @federalpalace . While seated and waiting for the show to kickstart, one of the notable contemporary African fashion architects whose work I admire takes a seat beside me. Long story short, in addition to the numerous sketches I made that day for my research was this quick charcoal sketch. Ladies and Gents, I present to you @maiatafo in my sketch pad #IbeAnanaba #SocioCulturalObserver #ContemporaryAfricanArt #FashionArtConversations

Midnight Sessions. Having a dialogue with inner self, using the good ol'palette knife and lighr orange acrylic paint to run a search on an 18 x 24 " archival paper. A quiet time like this makes the bird chirping sound and that or every scratch as the knife encounters the paper surface worth it. Where's the direction of the work headed? I'm yer to figure out BUT enjoying the process is a sweet jolly ride. Peace!

Alongside a sustainable idea, PROCESS IS KING! In dialogue with the ongoing exhibition-' It’s About Time: Dancing Black in Canada 1900–1970 and Now' showing @dalhousie_art_gallery , curated by @seikalab , this in-situ work investigates how dance and movement hold, activate, and transform space. Drawing from his lived Afro-diasporic experience, Ananaba translates rhythm and flow into visual form through the horizontal line language developed in his ongoing cultural reclamation 'Bars of Honour series', carried onto a graciously rendered female figure. The flowing stripes function as both pulse and structure, revealing dynamic movement as embodied memory and cultural continuity. Meanwhile, that scratchy sound when the palette knife interfaces with canvas sends me to high heavens! 'OF GRACE & PROVENANCE' (2026) Acrylic on canvas 60 x 130 in. #IbeAnanaba

Midnight Session Pushing forward to explore the intersection of drawing & Painting in a minimalist form using the palette knife & raw black acrylic paint on an 18 x 24 inch good ol' archival watercolour paper. The creative process would always remain KING as it takes me on a joyous adventure. Watching the forms & the figure emerge as i blocked negative spaces with that mellow 'Can you Stand The Rain' background song was absolutely a sweet experience. Will i do it again?... of course you know. The search continues. #IbeAnanaba #MidnightSessions #ContemporaryArt

MAKING A SHORT STORY LONG! Uloma and Chintua met in the village, specifically on 27th December, at a village football match, during one of Chintua's Christmas hols. Beyond beauty, Uloma (a diehard Arsenal fan) unknowingly stole Chintua's heart with her football analytical and commentary skills, with fusion of street slang and football terms in hardcore Ngwa dialect. Focus shifted, and in our local parlance– 'Egwu eChangie'. Uloma became the main game Chintua came to watch at the village school soccer... nope!... football pitch, as she was so immersed in enjoying the game. Match ended. Hello and Hi ensued and numbers exchanged because Chintua was to head to Lagos via Owerri airport early hours of the next day to catch his late night flight back to his base in 'ATALANTA' or 'ALANA' (whichever one your tongue decides to phoneticize). Fast-forward, something began. Despite living continents apart, Uloma and Chintua nurtured that thing through shared dreams, long-hour voice and video calls. However, countless fights and all that is best expressed in Ngwa dialect, threatened the relationship. Pause. Intended missed calls, unanswered WhatsApp messages and lingering voice notes took sway until Chintua had to restrategize as agunwa. Mimicking Uloma's expression when a goal was scored reignited a seemingly lost venture. Back in full force and all juiced up, their bond strengthened. Then Chintua clocked it and surprised her with a hand-written proposal of those sweet nothings, with all the imperfections in it, finally ready to bridge the gap for good before agba nnunu nne ya efe. Ladies & Gents... "SWEET LOVE STORIES" Acrylics on Canvas 20x24 inches ©ibeananaba 2019 Muse: @peju.alatise

Feels so good to sighting this introspective wet-on-wet search. Muse: Jerome