Meet Emmanuel Obile Joshua

 

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Emmanuel Obile Joshua a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Emmanuel , appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?

My resilience as an artist comes from a combination of curiosity, mentorship, and community. From a young age, I’ve been driven by a deep curiosity, a desire to explore, discover, and express. That inner drive has always pushed me forward, but it was during my undergraduate years that my resilience truly began to take shape.

During my undergraduate in 2019, at the Federal University of Lafia Nasarawa State Nigeria. I met my mentor “Unyime Edet” A full time Figurative and Water color Painter, who has deeply influenced my path. He was a serving corp member at the time, and after seeing his work, I felt an instant connection both to his art and to his journey. I paid a visit to his studio and saw firsthand the discipline and commitment he brought to his practice. Even when the rewards weren’t immediate, he continued to show up, paint, and stay focused. His example taught me that resilience isn’t just about strength, it’s about showing up consistently, even in silence.

Being under his mentorship shaped my mindset and grounded me in the reality of what it takes to grow in this field of art. I also draw strength from my peers and from seasoned masters who have set a standard of excellence and perseverance in the contemporary art space. Platforms like social media have helped me stay connected to that larger creative community giving me both inspiration and a sense of accountability.

Lastly, the joy of creating meaningful work and seeing it connect with others sometimes through sales, sometimes through impact, continues to fuel my resilience. It reminds me that I’m on a journey worth pursuing.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I’m Emmanuel Obile Joshua, a full-time contemporary visual artist based in Abuja, Nigeria. I’m also a graphic designer, drummer, and deeply committed creative. My artistic journey is centered on exploring the complexity of the human experience, particularly themes of self-discovery, identity, and humanism.

Through expressive realist portraiture, figurative forms, and symbolic elements like feathers representing freedom, innocence, peace, and purity I channel emotions inspired by personal experiences, people, and the world around me. My art is more than visual it’s a language of expression and storytelling. I primarily work with oil and charcoal, which allow me to convey depth, emotion, and narrative in powerful, tactile ways.

One thing I find special about my practice is its intuitive and honest nature. My process allows me to connect deeply with my subjects and, in turn, create works that are emotionally relatable to both local and global audiences. I see art as a bridge for reflection, healing, and meaningful conversation, a way to engage others and inspire positive change in society.

Lately, I’ve been experimenting with a unique medium: charcoal and oil on primed ceiling board. This exploration has led to my latest body of work titled “THE CHOICE IS OURS,” which will be on display at the Life In My City Art Festival (LIMCAF) Grand Finale this October. You can get a glimpse of the series on my Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DMqDVVns8v-/?igsh=OTA2dHg5czV2MTVy

This new direction excites me deeply, I look forward to sharing more works through this evolving technique. I believe art can document culture, spark introspection, and serve as a tool for healing and transformation.

At the heart of it all, I’m on a continuous journey of learning, growth, and self-expression and I warmly invite others to walk that journey with me.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back on my artistic journey so far, I can identify three key qualities and areas of knowledge that have made the biggest impact:

1. Patience

Art is a process that takes time to grow. Developing your own style, building a career, and even gaining recognition doesn’t happen overnight. Patience has taught me to trust the journey even when progress feels slow. It’s a virtue every artist must learn to embrace.

2. Continuous Learning & Curiosity

My growth has been fueled by a consistent desire to learn. Even after my undergraduate studies, I never stopped seeking knowledge from books, social media, mentors, and artists who have gone ahead of me. Every experience becomes an opportunity to learn something new. I’ve found that curiosity opens doors and keeps my creativity fresh.

3. Mentorship & the Right Environment

Surrounding myself with positive influences has been life-changing. I’ve been fortunate to learn under great mentors who not only sharpen my skills but also shape my mindset. As a Christian, my faith plays a huge role in my inspiration i draw strength and vision from the messages I hear in church. That spiritual connection helps me create from a deeper place.

My advice to young artists/ contemporaries is this:
Don’t chase money or fame. Focus on building value in yourself and your work. One of the most powerful lessons my mentor taught me is that people are drawn to value. When you grow in skill, discipline, and vision your value increases, and people will begin to notice and support and reward you.

Be humble. Stay under mentorship. Keep learning. And let your art be rooted in purpose. When you walk in value, you’ll never have to beg for visibility, your light will naturally shine.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

Yes, I’m very open to collaborations and partnerships especially with galleries, curators, collectors, and creative professionals who are passionate about contemporary artists and who value art that explores human experience, identity, emotion, and connection.

My work is deeply rooted in storytelling and symbolism, and I’m always excited to collaborate with individuals or institutions that share similar values, those who believe that art should speak to the soul, reflect society, and inspire thought.

I’m particularly interested in working with:
• Galleries and curators who showcase expressive realism and human-centered narratives.
• Collectors and art consultants who support emerging voices and value deeply personal and culturally relevant works.
• Fellow artists or creatives with a strong sense of purpose and a desire to build something impactful together.

For me, collaboration is about shared vision and mutual value. I’m not just bringing paintings I’m bringing perspective, emotion, and intentionality. I also deeply respect the vision of my collaborators and seek partnerships that are mutually enriching.

To anyone who resonate with my work or want to explore a possible collaboration, you’re very welcome to connect with me.
You can reach out via:
• Instagram: @emmanuel_obile
• Email: [email protected]
• Facebook: Emmanuel Obile Joshua
• LinkedIn: Emmanuel Obile Joshua

Let’s build something meaningful together.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

-Sani Sani
-Emmanuel Obile Joshua

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