Oct 12, 2023
Meet Ugo Agoruah
We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ugo Agoruah a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Ugo , thanks for joining us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.
For the past seven or so years of my artistic career, I have been focusing on oil paint as my medium of choice. Though I was creating beautiful imagery, I felt like something wasn’t quite aligning with how I wanted to create. Even so, I felt as though to reach the masters, I’d have to create like the masters that I admired so much. I was stuck at an impasse and needed a break from the weight of expectations that I was putting on my artwork. I had to convince myself that it was okay to take a step back and allow myself to go on a hiatus. This decision ended up being one of the best that I could have made. The separation allowed for space for me to grow in a different direction and eventually allowed me to fall in love with my process all over again. This time, with the medium of pen and ink, along with a new intuitive drawing process. Now, almost eight months into this new body of work and I feel more aligned in my creativity and storytelling than ever.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I am an Igbo-American artist, raised in Marietta, GA since early childhood. I started cultivating a love for artistic imagery and aesthetic, by saving and trying to recreate scenes by my favorite comic and manga artists. As I matured I fell in love with storytelling as well as the artwork of the renaissance masters. I decided to take my interest further by obtaining my Bachelor’s of Fine Arts degree from the Kennesaw State University School of Art & Design. I took my learnings and jumped the the art scene from Atlanta to neighboring states, and eventually internationally, I worked to capture and intrigue communities with my beautiful work and my attention to aesthetic & narrative. Using the gift of art as a gateway to higher thinking, understanding, and discovery, I take inspiration from classical epics, personal tales, comic art, history, culture, and the classical muse to create work that can be described as transcendental and didactic.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
Creating artwork has been a healing experience for me in that it brings my mind to a state of flow. Within in this state of flow, I feel alignment and a wholeness. A clarity of mind comes that allows for revelation of life experience and perspective. Creating has become an act of self love. The pen acts as a sword in a fight against pain, anxiety, and fears.
In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?
The best ways to support your favorite artists are buying their artwork and merchandise as well as mentioning them in rooms where they haven’t been yet. Sharing their artwork with others that you think would love it and could become a collector is great.
Contact Info:
Website: Www.ugoagoruah.com
Image CreditsEyeamnovember, Yemi Black, TheVirtuoso