Artist Talk – Tonye Ekine

Join us for an artist talk with Tonye Ekine, hosted by final year fine art student Katy Tomiak.

Tonye Ekine is a Nigerian-born, London-based artist whose passion for storytelling is deeply embedded within his painting practice.

His artwork explores themes of identity, decolonization and heritage using acrylic on linen and canvas through motifs of Nigerian-inspired masked figures within British architecture.

Tonye was trained in Fine Art at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife Nigeria (2014) and MA Fine Art: Drawing at Camberwell College of Arts, London UK (2022).

He has since gained recognition in the contemporary art scene with a nomination as one of the finalists for the Ingram Prize 2024, a recent solo exhibition at Steingold Contemporary in March 2025, and an upcoming solo exhibition at the Wakefield Art House in September 2025 – following his artist residency there in 2024.

The artist Tonye Ekine standing to the right of one of his paintings

The artist Tonye Ekine next to Ekine's 'One of us'. Edited and photographed by Reece Gibbins.

Venue

Common Room
School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies
University Road
University of Leeds
Leeds LS2 9JT

AccessAble guide to the building.

More information

This artist talk with Tonye Ekine is organised by final year BA Fine Art with History of Art student Katy Tomiak.

It is free to attend and all are welcome.

There’s no need to book – please just turn up!

Image

Tonye Ekine, Who is in the Garden. Photographed and edited by Tonye Ekine.