Mesoma Hammida Onyeagba born in Port Harcourt, Nigeria who works between the medium of painting, textiles and fashion based art. She obtained her BFA in the University of Ottawa and an MFA at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC). She was awarded the Suzanne Rivard-Le Moyne Award (2022) from uOttawa and the Municipal Art League Fellowship Award (2024) from SAIC on the basis of Merit. 

I emphasize on the tangible presence of fabrics as carriers of history, memory, and personal narratives, aiming to highlight the enduring value of what might otherwise be discarded, transforming them into favourable objects while playing a role in challenging conventional notions of beauty, value, and promoting a diverse perception of art and aesthetics. I also experiment with patterns, shapes and colour coordination to explore the themes of movement, fluidity and tranquility, while observing the dynamic interplay of form on the body (clothing) regarding the subject and in the environment (tapestries and quilts). Besides personal narratives, collaborative creativity also enhances my practice with the goal to inspire, innovate and connect. 

My figurative paintings are focused on the representation and beauty of black women. I explore fashion and tactile memory through one’s choice of clothing centering on identity and emotions of the past before the painting process. Questions like – Why that piece of clothing, how it makes one feel and its connection with the past then the present arises.

I hope to captivate individuals through positive messaging, a shared creative outlook and engaging with the art on a sensory and emotional level. Emphasis on Familiarity and Nostalgia, Representation and identity, Collaboration and Community, Pattern and Color Interaction through material collection and representational art.