OPTG: We are thrilled to finally catch up with you.  You are easily one of the busiest artists we know. From your paintings, photography, book cover designs and art exhibitions we wonder how you get to do it all.  You continue to celebrate a beautiful and positive Africa.  Your work always speak to something – an issue or  event, but we rarely get to see the artist behind it all.  Tell us, who is Victor Ehikhamenor?

Victor: You pretty much described me already. I am an artist who also writes and photographs. I was born in a village called Udomi-Uwessan, from there I dreamt about the outside world as a kid and as I grew older, I decided to explore those dreams and the world that inhabits them. Other than that, I’m just a regular guy who believes in humanity. 

OPTG:  You have a BA in English and literature from Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma, Nigeria, an MSc in Technology Management from the University of Maryland, College Park, and an MFA from the same University.  What got you interested in the arts?

Victor: I was always an artist. I started drawing like most kids at the age of four, the only difference was that I never stopped drawing and was always thrilled by any work of art. I held my interest from childhood to adulthood and despite every other thing, art never left me nor did I leave art. 

OPTG: Tell us about your journey to this very moment.  What and when was your ‘aha’ moment? 

Victor: Very long story – a four-decade journey should be a book, right? The journey has been long but I was never in a hurry. I believed everything has its time. When I left Nigeria for the UK then US, I did not really have a clear plan, I just wanted to leave because of the situation of the country then, but I decided on one thing early, to make the very best of every opportunity outside the country. Despite some of the difficulties living in another man’s country, from racism to getting work permits, I did not internalize any of the craziness. As for what I did in the arts, I had exhibitions and I wrote mostly while in the US. After my MFA in 2008, I was headhunted by the now defunct NEXT newspaper to be the creative director, one of the greatest and most fulfilling job I have held till then. When the media house folded, I decided to remain in Nigeria and I am glad I made that decision. The energy in my country and the zeal to make a tiny contribution, whatever that may be to her development fuels me. It’s been nine years since I moved back, and I am still taking it all in, one day at a time. 

‘Aha’ moment – this is usually a very difficult question, because every time I finish a painting I have an aha moment. 

OPTG:  What have you learnt along the way?

Victor: Tenacity – never giving up because of road bumps of life and keeping faith. 

OPTG: What have been the most challenging aspects of what you do?

Victor: I don’t even remember them, funny enough. I don’t compile challenges.  The ones I come across provide me with opportunities to think about solutions. I can’t really complain otherwise I will lose focus and be very ungrateful. 

OPTG: What should we be expecting from you in the future?

Victor: More art projects and hopefully a book, but most importantly, I really want to give back to my community and that keeps me awake at night these days – how to go about that and what it will be. There is a lot to be done in my country.  One has to figure out a way to do that. It is our turn to build and we must not despair. 

OPTG: What advise will you give particularly young people who are yet to identify their passion?

Victor: Don’t give up and don’t be in a rush. Work, work, work, read, read, read, observe, observe, observe, and learn, learn, learn. Never stop learning, both from old and young. 

OPTG: Where and how can people contact you to learn about your upcoming shows.

Victor:  www.victorehistudio.com 

Twitter and Instgram @victorsozaboy