Solomon Irein Wangboje was one of Nigeria’s most accomplished visual artists and art educators—a pioneer of printmaking whose work helped define modern Nigerian art on both national and international stages. Through his bold linocuts, transformative teaching, and unrelenting passion for cultural identity, he shaped generations of artists and elevated the place of Nigerian art in the global conversation.
Born in 1930 in Edo State, Wangboje studied at Edo College in Benin and the Nigerian College of Arts, Science and Technology in Zaria, where he joined the historic Zaria Art Society—a movement that championed a fusion of African traditions with modern artistic methods, known as Natural Synthesis.
He earned a Master of Fine Arts in Printmaking from Cranbrook Academy in 1963 and a Doctorate in Art Education from New York University in 1968, becoming the first Nigerian to hold such a degree.
Wangboje became Nigeria’s first Professor of Fine Art at Ahmadu Bello University in 1973 and later served as Professor of Creative Arts and Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Benin. His influence as a teacher was just as profound as his art.
His signature works, like “Romance of the Headload” and “Festival of the Gods”, captured the soul of Nigerian life in vivid, symbolic prints. He was featured in exhibitions around the world, including a Smithsonian Institution touring show from 1966–68.
Beyond the studio and lecture halls, Wangboje contributed immensely to Nigerian education. He authored textbooks, founded creative workshops like the Ori-Olokun Centre, and served as President of the Society of Nigerian Artists, later inducted into its Hall of Fame.
He passed away in 1998, but his legacy continues in every Nigerian art department, gallery, and school that values cultural pride and artistic excellence.
Solomon Wangboje didn’t just make prints—he left an imprint on Nigerian art history.
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