Jerry Buhari - Biography | Journey Of Recreation And Reconstruction

 

Jerry Buhari is a painter, curator and a renowned art educator. A professor of Fine Art at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State.

The award-winning artist was born on the 11th July 1959 and hails from Akwaya, Kachia L.G.A., Kaduna State, Nigeria.

Jerry Buhari finds drawing very significant in his work, making drawing an essential way he expresses himself.

His latest works is majorly a response to what's happening in Nigeria today. In the nineties, a period of depression when artist and art materials were not to be found in art store, gave birth to a new way of doing things for the artist which he showcased in a recent exhibition, "Landscapes of the Soul".

In order to keep his sanity, at that time, the artist continued to recreate and reconstruct a world he can relate to and manage through his art works.

Jerry Buhari who's heart beats for Nigeria focuses on socio-political issues and the environment, in relation to how man interacts with it.

Medium of Expression

I use anything

Materials

Oils, charcoal,water, pastels, clay, fabric and I also use my body to create art as well

Exhibitions

Professor Buhari has done 12 Solo and over 60 group exhibition in Nigeria and abroad: Landscapes of the Soul, International Artists Residencies, International Artists Workshops etc.

Awards/Honours

Professor Buhari has received numerous honours and awards such as, The Commonwealth Foundation, The Ford Foundation, and Japan Foundation/Triangle Trust/Vermont Studio Center, Vice Chancellor’s Merit Award, A.B.U. Golden Jubilee, The Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA).

The art curator was a guest lecturer at Kansas Wesleyan University (KWU), Salina Kansas (2007), Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), Savannah Georgia (2007) and University of Nigeria Nsukka (2008). He also served as a visiting professor at Princeton University, University of Jos and University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

He is a member of many professional bodies such as Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA), The Arts Council of the African Studies Association (ACASA), Nigerian Society of Education through Art (NSEA), The Pan-African Circle of Artists (PACA) and Aftershave International Artists Workshop.

Jerry Buhari is also an Art Advisor to Nigeria's leading auction house, Arthouse Contemporary Limited.  

Inspiration

He is inspired by nature.

Dreams

My dream is for art to be considered as a potential tool for holistic human development, innovative thinking, problem solving without the box and for art to be accepted as medium for nation building.

Artist Statement

Art helps me to express myself. Art serves as a survival technique which enables me to live in a hostile environment called Nigeria.