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Ugoma Ebilah is an art curator, gallerist and cultural convener at the forefront of shaping contemporary discourses in African art in the broadest sense. In 2010 she founded BLOOM Art, a gallery and salon that has been instrumental in expanding the commercial appetite for contemporary African art, providing support and guidance to emerging and mid-career artists and instigating dynamic curatorial interventions and programming that has attracted a new generation of art collectors and enthusiasts. As a cultural producer she is guided by notions rooted in the Igbo ideological concept of the ‘Obi’ where pivotal socioeconomic change is best realized via the lens of the homestead, both real and imagined, and art acts as a catalyst for structural renewal, ideological innovation and societal transformation.
Ugoma has successfully navigated a career in art that straddles commerce, community and education, and is illustrative of her unparalleled strength as an agile amplifier of talent and a strategic builder of effective partnerships. In February 2021, Ugoma originated and executed the largest secondary market art sale and placement ($1,000,000) by an independent Nigerian curator and dealer, and BLOOM Art has held exhibitions for some of Nigeria’s most feted modern and contemporary artists including Muraina Oyelami, Victor Ehikhamenor, Marcia Kure, Lemi Ghariokwu, Olu Ajayi, Angela Isiuwe, J.D Okhai Ojeikere and Tam Fiofori.
Her credo is guided by a commitment to both growing the domestic and regional art market as well as providing curatorial and advisory support to financial institutions, educational foundations and private collectors. As a trusted voice and authority, her perspectives are sought out globally and during the 57th Venice Biennale in 2017, Ugoma was an Ambassador of The African Art In Venice Forum and was also selected to attend a special segment and curated immersion of documenta no.19 in Kassel, Germany. Significantly, she continuously anchors her activities on the continent: BLOOM Art was one of the first to commit and have an annual presence at continent specific fair Art X Lagos, Ugoma was recently elected as a Trustee Director at Yinka Shonibare’s G.A.S. Foundation, and she is an advisory board member of 1952 Africa.
Ugoma’s shows and activations have oscillated between the monographic and thematic. Whilst each project has possessed specific objectives, the guiding principles have centred upon two central tenets: either the expansion of significant debates within the African Art community in the continent and beyond, or the facilitation and revival of ideas and important bodies of work for new audiences. This audacious intent saw the Lagos opening in 2017 of the first solo exhibition in 20 years of Professor Obiora Udechukwu’s work to critical acclaim, and in 2019 Ugoma took her thesis further afield when she co-curated with Emeka Ogboh, Face Me I Face You, hosted by the Embassy of Nigeria, Berlin to commemorate the inaugural Nigerian Cultural Day. Furthermore, in April of the same year she produced the book launch and accompanying show for the republication of ‘Art in Development: A Nigerian Perspective’ by the late Uche Okeke who was a member of the famed Zaria Rebels. Hers is a a Janus-like approach: acknowledging the historic, fearlessly future facing, and standing on the threshold in the here and now.
As a cultural omnivore Ugoma was an early adopter of notions of intersectionality in the creative visual arts. Ugoma has led several activations where artistic expression is celebrated across media. Lights, Camera, Africa, founded in 2011 has become the region’s foremost independent film festival, hosting regional premieres of Man on Ground by Akin Omotoso, Green White Green by Abba Makama and Confusion Na Wa by Kenneth Gyang to name a few. WOMAN RISING founded in 2014 is an Arts Festival and Concert that celebrates women in the arts and those who champion the industry. With performances from noted musicians such as Waje and Simi and keynotes from prominent female change agents such as Obiageli Ezekwesili, Adeola Azeez and Nike Ogunlesi it has become a vital part of the creative calendar.
Her forays have resulted in her founding Mbari Kola, a private arts society with an ambitious era defining agenda. The space will play the role of art gallery, creative incubator, research centre and club house for those who share her vision for African Art.
The club house, a latter-day ‘Obi’ where existing narratives can be interrogated, categorizations of what constitutes art can be explored and pathways to wider participation and educational engagement can be designed and implemented. It is a life’s work that augments Ugoma’s passion and expertise and invites others to collaborate with her.
