Artist Profile

Chinonyelum Okonkwo Gloria is a Nigerian painter and lecturer at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, where she also completed her BA, MFA, and PhD in Studio Painting. Her artistic practice explores the expressive and communicative power of colour, using it to examine environmental, social, economic, and political realities. Through painting, Okonkwo addresses pressing social issues and challenges forms of injustice, often translating complex realities into emotionally charged visual narratives. Her work includes a series confronting human trafficking in Nigeria, drawing attention to its devastating effects on individuals and communities. Combining a strong engagement with contemporary social concerns and an evolving language of colour, her practice positions painting as both a means of reflection and a platform for social awareness.