Osaretin Ugiagbe | Hotel Indigo

Virtual Exhibitions

Osaretin Ugiagbe | Hotel Indigo

About the Exhibition

Osaretin Ugiagbe | Hotel Indigo 

On View:  January 23 - May 3, 2024

Reception: Wednesday, February 21 | 5 to 7 pm

Hotel Indigo | 24 West Franklin Street | Free & Open to the Public

Maryland Art Place in partnership with Hotel Indigo Baltimore is pleased to present a solo exhibition by Maryland-based artist, Osaretin Ugiagbe. The exhibition is on view at Hotel Indigo, located at 24 West Franklin St. from January 23 - May 3. A public reception will take place Wednesday, February 21 from 5 to 7 pm.

About the artist: Osaretin Ugiagbe, born in Lagos in 1986, has been moving from city to city since leaving Lagos at the age of 16. He travels within his mind, carrying his memories as baggage and reconstructing them in each new place and culture he discovers. Faces blend into an interior scene, leaving behind only an atmosphere where his memories intertwine.

Ugiagbe studied at the Royal College of Art in London and graduated in 2019 with a Master of Art (Painting Program). He has exhibited in several museums, including the Bronx Documentary  Center and the Bronx Museum of Art, and his work is part of the collection at the Museum of  Fine Art Houston. Articles about him have been featured in The New York Times and the  Financial Times in London.

By concealing the faces in his artwork, Ugiagbe invites viewers to actively engage with the narratives of his protagonists. Furthermore, he conveys not only a sense of universality but also vulnerability and protection. This duality adds layers of complexity to the artwork, encouraging  viewers to explore their own emotions and experiences.

The artist skillfully incorporates the motif of Bounty paper towels to obscure the faces of his  characters, thus providing insightful commentary on the detrimental impact of globalized consumerism which inevitably leads to homogeneity. In doing so, Ugiagbe draws a parallel  between the assimilative nature of Bounty paper towels, seamlessly absorbing and obscuring our distinctive identities. Additionally, as an immigrant himself, the artist evokes a lingering sense of displacement and transience as he navigates between contrasting realms.

Please join us on Wednesday, February 21 from 5 to 7 pm at Hotel Indigo  for the opening reception celebrating the solo exhibition of Osaretin Ugiagbe. Hotel Indigo is free and open to the public.

01/23/2024 - 05/03/2024

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Maryland Art Place (MAP) inspires, supports, and encourages artistic expression through innovative programming, exhibitions, and educational opportunities while recognizing the powerful impact art can have on our community. MAP creates a dynamic environment for artists of our time to engage the public by nurturing and promoting new ideas. MAP has served as a critical resource for contemporary art in the Mid-Atlantic since 1981.

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