Who is Tonye?
Tonye Ekine is a contemporary visual artist, born and raised in Nigeria now based in East London. Through painting, drawing, sculpture, and installation, he creates emotionally rich narratives that explore identity, memory, belonging, and the shared experiences that connect us. Inspired by the historic Ife bronze mask, Tonye uses masked figures as storytellers, placing them in familiar everyday settings to examine the many roles we play and the invisible masks we wear throughout life.
Before becoming a full-time artist, Tonye built a career in music, advertising, and marketing, where he developed a passion for storytelling, community building, and visual communication. These experiences continue to shape his artistic practice, allowing him to create work that is both deeply personal and universally relatable.
Since transitioning into the visual arts, Tonye has exhibited widely across the UK and has quickly established himself as one of the country's emerging voices in contemporary painting. His work has been featured in solo and group exhibitions, recognised by major art prizes and collections, and acquired by private collectors across the UK, Europe, the United States, and the Middle East.
At the heart of Tonye's practice is a curiosity about people their emotions, histories, relationships, and the ways memory shapes identity. Through bold colours, symbolic imagery, and layered storytelling, he invites viewers to slow down, reflect, and find their own place within each narrative. His ambition is to create work that not only resonates within gallery spaces but also fosters conversations across cultures and communities, using art as a bridge between past and present, personal and collective experience.
He currently sits as a trustee of The Art House Wakefield, continuing to shape cultural discourse through both practice and leadership.
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Exhibitions
2026
Group Show Exiting the Forest, Into a Sea of Open Arms,Vibrantform, London (2026)
Solo Show, Studio Kind, North Devon, We Belong Together, (21 March 2026 - 26 April 2026) Laura Porter.
2025
Solo Show, The Art House, Wakefield, When the Dawn Delays, We Rise Anyway (06 September 2025 - 06 November 2025) Curated by Damon Jackson-Waldock and Amelia Baron.
Group Show, The Barbican Centre – Echoes of Identity: A Contemporary Narrative (2th May, 2025 – 28th May, 2025.
Group Show, Black British Art, London – Power in the Archive : Reframing Black British Histories and Futures (Oct 3 – Nov 6) Curated by Lisa Anderson and Brian Maina.
Group Show, Unit 1 Gallery - INGRAM PRIZE, Finalist Exhibition, UK, (Nov 26 - Nov 30) Curated by Jo Baring.
2024
Solo Show, Steingold Contemporary, London – One of Us (March 6–March 16) Curated by Joanna Steingold.
Group Show, Christie’s Lates, Duke Street Gallery, London – Voices of Black Artistry
Group Show, The Royal Society of British Artists, London – RBA Rising Stars (April 24 – July 7) curated by Louis Chapple
Group Show, Coningsby Gallery, London – The Art of PR (November 18 – November 23)
Ingram Prize Finalist Exhibition, Curated by Jo Baring. UK
2023
Group Show, Cornerstone Studios, London – 4 N 1
2022
Group Show, Espacio Gallery, London – This is Art curated by Laura Porter
Group Show, Camberwell MA Fine Art, London – Brick + Glass Ceilings curated by Sarah Woodfine & Geraint Evans
Group Show, Steingold Contemporary, London –Haven
Group Show, Copeland Gallery, London – Church/Factory
Residencies
Venice Fellowship Programme, Biennale Arte,Italy – Foreigners Everywhere
Being part of the Fellowship with The CollectiveMakers and the British Council was a great experience, giving me newfound confidence in my work. The opportunity to engage with Sir John Akomfrah’s art reshaped my perspective, particularly in how he weaves narration and poetry into his storytelling.
The Art House Wakefield Printmaking & Sculpture Residency, UK
(June 2025 – September 4 2025).
This was an opportunity to develop my printing and ceramic practice in TAH’s in anticipation of my solo exhibition
The Art House Wakefield Printmaking Residency, UK (Nov 2024 – December 2025).
Education:
MA Camberwell College of Art UAL (University of the Arts London)
BFA Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife
WORKSHOPS & TALKS
Christie’s Late, London – Echoes of Identity: A Self-Portrait Workshop with Ife Masks
Art Meets Culture, London – State of the Arts Panel Discussion
Leeds University – Artist Talk at School Of Fine Art, History Of Art and Cultural Studies
SOCIAL IMPACT/ Volunteering
Youth Care Development Empowerment Initiative (YCDEI).
YCDEI is an NGO dedicated to empowering the African girl child and addressing gender inequality in Nigeria.
Art and Homelessness International:
This is the london network of arts and homelessness working to bring positive change to people, projects and policy in homelessness through arts and creativity. I donate my work to the Home Christmas Charity Auction, The proceeds go to The Upper Room, a local homeless charity.
Say hi :)
Tonye is always wandering, looking for new, exciting art and creative opportunities.
