Solace rejects a world of frantic consumption and self-sabotage. Eyes closed, the figure retreats into stillness — an act of defiance against a climate in crisis and a society too fast to feel. Scorched earth tones speak to a warming planet, while hand-sculpted flowers made from plastic waste and lavender fronds insist on blooming anyway. Ancient symbols flow like forgotten ecological wisdom. She embodies grounded resistance: to flourish means slowing down, reconnecting with nature, refusing to self-destruct. In stillness, Solace finds regeneration. The painting urges us to cling to Earth, not extract from it, finding peace — and planetary healing — by rooted, quiet defiance.
Ogo Onyeji
Ogochimere (Ogo) Onyeji (2005-) is a Nigerian recycling artist. She studied Fine and Applied Arts at the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), and has since developed her practice of weaving together culture, aesthetics, and environmental consciousness. She does this through the amalgamation of discarded plastic, pigment, and sometimes fabric to tell provocative stories, usually centred around social constructs and self-discovery. Her pieces are interdisciplinary, spanning mixed-media painting and fashion accessories. Ogo has participated in and won several art competitions and exhibitions, including the WACOL exhibition (Lagos, 2022), Dawn Project (Lagos, 2024), and Ihe Ncheta exhibition (Chicago, 2025). In 2024, she was named the Most Innovative Artist of the Year by AFAAS, alongside being nominated for the SUG UNN Best Visual Artist of the Year award.
