Mesoma Hammida Onyeagba
Mesoma Hammida Onyeagba, born in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, and hailing from Enugu State, works in the mediums of painting, textiles, and fashion-based art. She obtained her BFA at the University of Ottawa and an MFA at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC). She was awarded the Suzanne Rivard-Le Moyne Award (2022) from uOttawa and the Municipal Art League Fellowship Award (2024) from SAIC, both based on merit.
I emphasize the tangible presence of fabrics as carriers of history, memory, and personal narratives, transforming what might otherwise be discarded into cherished artifacts. My work redefines traditional notions of beauty and advocates for a broader appreciation of art and aesthetics by highlighting the enduring value of these materials.
I also explore patterns, shapes, and colour coordination, delving into the themes of movement, fluidity, and tranquility. I focus on the dynamic interplay of form on the body (clothing) regarding the subject and in the environment (tapestries and quilts). My Nigerian heritage influences what I find valuable for collection and creation. Besides personal narratives, collaborative creativity enriches my practice with the goal to inspire, innovate, and connect.
Figurative painting was my initial art practice before I leaned towards fabric-based art. My paintings celebrate and appreciate Black women, exploring fashion and tactile memory through clothing choices that center on identity and emotions of the past. I ask questions like: Why that piece of clothing? How does it make one feel? What is its connection to the past and present?
Through my art, I hope to captivate individuals with positive messaging and a shared creative outlook, engaging them on a sensory and emotional level. Emphasis on familiarity and nostalgia, representation and identity, collaboration and community, pattern and color interaction through material collection and representational art.
mesomaonyeagba.com
What themes or emotions are you exploring in your current work?
In my current work, I'm exploring themes of representation and magical realism with the aspiration of escaping through happiness: gratitude and celebration.
What does your creative process look like?
I spend time curating abandoned and imported floral-patterned fabrics from Nigeria and the States that will allow proper composition with the painted figures. As a frequent traveller, I reach out to Black women to help bring my paintings to life. My creative process is a balance between intuition and visual reasoning.
What inspires you outside of the visual arts?
Music is appreciated. Doodling while self-reflecting, philosophy on human nature/connecting, and my surroundings.
How do you balance personal expression with the business side of your career?
I balance my personal expression and the business side by letting my personality shine through in both. I try to have fun and overthink less. Mood boards and yearly color choices help me stay connected to my feelings and guide my artistic direction.
What do you hope viewers feel or take away from your work?
I value creating fictional worlds through my art, aiming to let viewers escape into each piece while celebrating iconic figures. My goal is to build immersive experiences that honor these figures within captivating, imagined realms.
