Artist, Painter and Curator, Henri Moweta began his journey of art quite early in his life. Born June 1st, 1960 in Jos to a Delta state family in Nigeria, Henri Moweta has grown to be a standing name in Nigerian art.
He had primary education (1969-1974) at the Saints Patrick’s Model primary school in Sapele, Nigeria. His secondary education (1974-1979) was at the Saints Patrick’s College in Asaba at Bendel State. After his college education, Henri Moweta went on to pursue tertiary education at the prestigious Auchi Polytechnic in Edo state where he took on Fine Art as a Major and specialized in painting (1982-1986).
Equipped with sharpened skills and a creative portfolio, he became a fashion design instructor at the Mac’s institute of fashion where he raised top fashion design students; including Gloria Onyeama, now his wife Gloria Moweta- an excelling fashion designer in Nigeria’s commercial metropolis- Lagos.
Professional Career
In the early 90’s, Henri Moweta kicked off his art gallery, the Henrimoweta Gallery, from the living room of his two-bedroom apartment in Anthony while still being very mobile with his works, in and about Lagos, every day of the week. Afterwards, he rented and renovated a space which previously functioned as a bar/hangout space on Adebayo Mokuolu Street Anthony Village, just below the same residential building where he lived. This became the first official company address and headquarters today. In the years following, he participated in ‘Merchants of Aesthetics’- a major joint art exhibition held in Lagos which promoted the works of contemporary artists such as Ini Brown, Nsikak Essien, Abraham Onobusere and other active contemporary artists at that time.
His first international art exhibition took place in the year 1997 in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Today, Henri Moweta is the Managing Director of Henrimoweta African Art Centre which stands today nearly two decades old, and housing thousands of art pieces from a broad range of Nigerian artists, expressed in a variety of techniques and creative media, such as canvas, wood, metal, fiber glass, clay, plastocast, bronze and burned wood.
Henri’s memorable pieces include “Ikombi dance”, a metal relief work that was jointly executed by talented Nigerian artist Ojo Campbell and commissioned by Bar. Paul Usoro, as well as “Unity of Purpose”, a six-feet fiber glass work that depicts the latent power in uniting to achieve an agreed purpose. This piece was put together alongside the talented Nigerian born artist Roland Osawe.
Henri has commissioned works on several platforms, some of which include Past Nigerian President Obasanjo Solidarity forum, W.I.S.T.A (Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association). He has actively participated in exhibitions locally and internationally with his works still being traded, auctioned and exhibited on independent platforms all over the country.
Awards and Commendations
Henri Moweta has received accolades by both private and public organizations for his contributions to art, culture, and entrepreneurship in Nigeria. He has been awarded by Associations such as the West African Students Union (WASU), Lions Club International, and other Non-Governmental Organizations for his roles in supporting education, youth empowerment, and humanitarian service.
Artistic expression and influences
Henri Moweta explores a couple of media but has a strong liking for acrylic because of the subtle finish it gives to his works. A lot of his works are surreal or abstract in nature and his inspirations are drawn from his immediate surroundings such as the people and places in the busy Lagos metropolis. As a young artist, he was particularly drawn to the style of Feliks Topolski a Polish-British expressionist artist born in 1907, who was also the official war artist portraying battlefield events for Great Britain and Poland governments during World War II.
