Artwork

Enwonwu’s artistic education in the 1930s led to a scholarship that took him from Nigeria to Oxford and Goldsmith’s College and the Slade School of Fine Art in London. He went on to study social anthropology in the UK and USA.

Enwonwu contributed his artwork to major exhibitions, and in 1947 was elected Fellow of the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland (FRAI). He lectured widely and in recognition of his contributions to the advancement of art in Africa and the world, he was made a Member of the British Empire (MBE) in 1954.

In the two decades that followed he took to developing his skills as a painter and sculptor. He lectured as a visiting professor in African studies at Harvard University and a Professor of Art at the University of Ife. In 1968, Enwonwu took to retirement after several years acting an art advisor to the Nigeria government.

This watercolour sketch was acquired by Nancy Stanfield when she was living in Nigeria, possibly in 1951. The sketch (one of two in the archive) is signed by Enwonwu and dated 1949-51.

H. 360 x W. 307 mm