The Department of Fine and Applied Arts, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Ebonyi State, has unveiled its 2025/2026 Final-Year Arts Exhibition, a compelling showcase of practical research projects by the graduating class.
The exhibition, which was opened to the university community and the general public, presented a vibrant collection of works spanning Painting, Sculpture, Ceramics, Graphics, Textiles, and Mixed-Media. The pieces interrogate pressing and timeless themes including identity, cultural heritage, environmental sustainability, technology, and contemporary Nigerian realities.
Each work on display was the outcome of a rigorous academic and studio-based research journey – from problem identification and field investigation to concept development, material experimentation, and final execution.
In his assessment, the External Examiner, Prof. Chijioke Noel Onuora of the Department of Fine and Applied Arts, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), commended the intellectual depth and practical relevance of the students’ projects.
He particularly lauded the students’ commitment to the fundamentals of studio practice, emphasizing the critical place of drawing in artistic development. According to him, strong artistic output is anchored on iterative sketching and conceptual exploration, rather than premature fixation on a single idea.
“Students must learn to generate multiple preliminary sketches to interrogate a concept from different perspectives before arriving at the most expressive resolution. This process allows an idea to be nurtured and refined, not lost,” Prof. Onuora stated.
He described drawing as the bedrock of all visual art practice – a vital tool for documentation, communication, and self-expression, through which ideas are preserved before being translated into finished works in various media.
He further expressed satisfaction with the graduating students for effectively demonstrating this iterative methodology, noting that the quality of works exhibited reflects both creative maturity and research diligence.
The Head of Department, Fine and Applied Arts, Dr. Job Ukwa appreciated the University Management led by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Daniel Nwachukwu, the project supervisors, studio instructors and all academic staff for their unwavering support and mentorship to the graduating class.
The exhibition which opened for viewing at the Department of Fine and Applied Arts gallery ended on Monday, with members of the public experiencing the creativity of Nigeria’s next generation of artists baked at AE-FUNAI.
