Today we’d like to introduce you to Stella Ekpe.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’ve been drawn to art for as long as I can remember. As a child, I was always sketching, doodling, or finding something creative to do. I didn’t know exactly where it would lead, but creating always felt natural to me.
As I got older, that interest became something I wanted to take seriously, so I went on to study Painting at the University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
Looking back, that was where I really began to understand that art could be more than making beautiful images. It could be a way of asking questions, telling stories, and connecting with people.
Today, I work as a multidisciplinary visual artist, creating figurative paintings and mixed-media works that explore quiet, everyday moments, spaces, and the emotions that comes within them. It’s about how memory is physically embodied through material.
So i often use myself as the subject, not because every painting is about me, but because it’s the most honest place for me to begin. My hope is that someone looking at my work sees a part of themselves in it too.
Over the past few years, I’ve had the opportunity to exhibit my work in Nigeria and South Africa, and every exhibition has helped me grow both creatively and professionally. I still feel like I’m learning with every new body of work, and that’s one of my favorite things about being an artist. There’s always something new to discover.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely hasn’t been a completely smooth road, but I don’t think that’s unique to me. Every artist has moments where they question themselves or wonder if they’re on the right path.
One of my biggest challenges has been learning to be patient. Building a career in the Arts takes time, and there have been moments when opportunities didn’t come as quickly as I hoped or when I faced rejection. Those moments can be discouraging, but they’ve also taught me resilience and reminded me to just keep showing up and doing the work.
Another challenge has been finding my own voice. Early on, it’s easy to compare yourself to other artists or wonder if your work is “enough.” Over time, I realized that the most meaningful work comes from being honest with myself instead of trying to fit into what I thought people wanted to see.
Also, Working in Nigeria also means artists often have to be resourceful. So you learn to adapt, experiment, and make the most of what’s available. Looking back, those limitations have encouraged me to become more inventive with my materials and process.
I’m actually grateful for those experiences because they’ve shaped both my work and my mindset. They’ve taught me to trust the process, stay curious, and celebrate the small wins along the way.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I create figurative paintings and mixed-media works that explore identity, memory and the emotions hidden within everyday moments that stay with me, and they’ve become the starting point for many of my paintings. It’s about how memory is physically embodied through materials, and I enjoy creating work that invites people to slow down and find their own meaning within it.
A big part of my practice is experimentation. Alongside oil and acrylic, I’ve developed a material process I call Ekpe Papier Strata, where I build textured surfaces using layers of light paper. It’s become an important part of how I tell stories, adding both physical depth and another emotional layer to the work.
I also frequently use myself as the model for my paintings. It’s practical, but it’s also a way of starting from a place that’s familiar and honest. Even though my face appears in many of the works, the emotions and stories are meant to be universal, leaving room for viewers to see themselves in the paintings too.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
One thing that surprises people is how much of my process happens long before I begin painting. Most of my compositions start as images in my mind. Once I can clearly picture them, I set up the scene and photograph myself as the model. I then use those photographs as references for my paintings.
Because I appear in so much of my work, people often assume the paintings are direct self-portraits or autobiographical. While they sometimes draw from my own experiences, I’m really using myself as a starting point to explore emotions and moments that many people can relate to. It’s simply the most honest and accessible reference I have.
I think that process allows me to create work that feels deeply personal while still leaving room for viewers to find their own stories within it.
So in a way, I’m often the artist, the model, the photographer, and the painter all at once. It’s basically a one-woman production most of the time, and it always makes me giggle a little when I think about it.
Pricing:
- $2,000
- $780
- $1,200
- $1,000
- $850
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sites.google.com/view/stella-ekpe/home
- Instagram: stella_ekpe_
