Uche Okpa-Iroha (Nigerian, b. 1972)

Nigerian artist Uche Okpa-Iroha began making photographs in 2005.  He is noted for his portraits that create dialogues between his subjects and their living conditions, and for his manner of using the photographic medium to investigate the stereotypical representation of African cultures.  Okpa-Iroha is a founding member of the Nigerian photography groups Blackbox Photography Collective, and Invisible Borders Trans-African Photography. His first major work, Under Bridge Life, published in 2008 was favorably received by the critics and exposed him to the international media and art market.  Okpa-Iroha exhibits internationally; recent major showings include the First African Photo Contest, Tarifa, Spain 2008; Loving Lagos, Berlin 2008; the 10th Havana Biennial, 2009; Uprooting the Gaze; Foreign Places, Familiar Patterns, Brighton Photo Fringe 2010; African Emerging Photography, Paris Photo 2011 and The Ungovernables (Invisible Borders Group), New Museum, New York 2012.  In 2015, he showed his work at the La Biennale di Venezia 56th International Art Exhibition, and was among the World Press Photo Joop Swart Masterclass selection committee in 2016. An alumnus of the Rijksakademie van Beeldende kunsten, Amsterdam, the Netherlands (2011- 2012), he lives and works in Lagos as a photographer, and as founder/Director of the photography platforms The Nlele Institute (TNI) and Lagos OPEN RANGE. He is also the co-founder of FOTOPARTY Lagos, and the curator of GT Bank ART 635 Gallery.