A-ARTs: Provenance breath of Ogiugo's 'Free Spirit' in Houston

AGAIN, provenance, a foundational structure on which art appreciation is built, globally, has exposed the infinity value of masterpieces, in visual culture. The master piece in focus came from the brushstrokes of Lagos-based artist, Edosa Ogiugo, in an impressionist painting, which found its way onto the wall of a collector, over 20 years ago.

When Edosa showed the 2003 dated painting titled 'Free Spirit', in Johannesburg, and Cape Town, South Africa, and found a collector who took it to Houston, U.S, a provenance seed was sowed. In 2025, the seed germinated public space art out of the wall of its collector in Houston, and took a new life into the Harris County's community centre as a mural. How Edosa adapted his 2003 dated painting of 4 x 5ft, oil on canvas into a mural of 20 x 90 ft could be a study in public space art.

Also, 'Free Spirit' strengthens the resilient value of art appreciation, in provenance chain, across cultures and regions, particularly in relation with artists and collectors. This much of an example can be cited in the unintended collaboration between Edosa and the collector of Free Spirit, when the painting was shown over two decades ago. It was a subconscious seed sowed by the collector of 'Free Spirit', which started yielding some unforeseen fruits in art appreciation, over 20 years after.

How did the journey of 'Free Spirit' start towards becoming a huge public space art? Eight Nigerian artists, including Ogiugo had a traveling group art exhibition titled Colours Nigeriana in Johannesburg and Cape Town, from November 24 to December 5, 2003. Among other pieces, Ogiugo showed paintings such as 'Free Spirit', 'Rhythm From the West', 'The Three Dancers', 'Duet Series' and a drawing 'Horse men. And the 'spirit' of connection breathed into the exhibition space, making 'Free Spirit' attractive to collector, Rodney Ellis.

As Harris County Commissioner, Ellis reconnected the artist and his work, over two decades after. Yes, it was coincidental that such a profound theme from the brushstrokes of the artist found predictions in the choice of Ellis, in 2023, when he collected the piece. However, the choice of the painting adapted as a mural for public space art, particularly in Houston – a melting pot of American multiculturalism – suggested a spiritual connection woven over 20 years ago.

Either in equestrian or human themes, Edosa, over the decades, has created an identity of depicting constant motions in his paintings. On the Benin dancers captured in 'Free Spirit', the movements of the women to the rhythm of the beats of that moment creates excitement, from which Edosa's brushings escalate the ecstasy. It takes an artist whose brushstrokes have the mastery of radiating animated movements in painting to transload a concept, from wall piece onto a gigantic canvas, for public space art. Indeed, art lexicons have another resource in Ogiugo's 'Free Spirit' to document great example of provenance strength in art appreciation.

For the Colours Nigeriana show in South Africa Ogiugo's co-exhibitors included Joe Musa, Tunde Soyinka, Nsikak Essien, Jack Amaso Kaizer, Angela Isiuwe, Uchay Joel Chima, Ananaba Ibeabuchi, Emmanuel Inua and Blaise Gundu Gbaden.

Edosa recalled that late last year, a Nigerian artist based in Houston, Bimbo Adenugba, disclosed to him that his 'Free Spirit' painting has been chosen to be elevated into a mural. In January, Ogiugo set out for Houston, and realised that the public space where the mural would be – aquatic centre of huge wall – has large public swimming pool behind it. Faced with such a task for the first time, Edosa appeared intimidated by the size of the wall. "My challenge was that I have never done mural of such huge size in my life," he shared his thoughts of the site. Seeing the wall from a distance, he thought "this is just a large canvas." But on getting to the site proper, the reality set in: "I realised I was just a fraction of the huge size."

As he thought of how to handle the size of the wall, another challenge set it. Before setting out, from Nigeria, he recalled being "told that Houston weather is just like that of Lagos, but there came a snow storm that lasted two days, so I didn't start as scheduled." With the assistance of Commissioner Ellis who "ensured that I got good protective jacket," he was ready to confront the 'Free Spirit' challenge of space.

When he eventually got rid of the size intimidation, there was no stopping his high spirit of getting the job done. He recalled that when "I got on the lift, sometimes I work 8 straight hours." Working with a lift for mural was another challenge of which he said nearly led him to slip, "but I quickly regained my balance." He admitted that completing the work stressed him, but quickly added "it was stressful fun for me."

He was given a deadline of 10 days to complete the mural. "Luckily for me, I beat the deadline of 10 days by completing the work in seven days," Edosa enthused during a chat on his return to Lagos. "So, I was told to immediately proceed for another mural." However, the second mural has to wait. Reason: "I was so stretched and stressed, I couldn't start the second mural."

'Free Spirit' (oil on canvas, 4x5ft, dated 2003) by Edosa Ogiugo.

As art content that connects people across cultural and geographical boundaries, 'Free Spirit' found an extended home in Houston. The city with huge African community, has Nigerian population said to be the largest in numerical strength, among Africans. Edosa explained the cultural contents as depicting a group of Benin dancers, with the traditional beaded headwear costumes of the people's iconic Iyoba (Queen Mother). The artist said "The interesting thing for me is how the painting got relevant in that community," in Harris County, Houston.

The relevance of the painting to the community was already felt, even before the artist left the city. He disclosed that while working on the mural, quite a number of residents across ages as young as 3, 6, 10 and elderly expressed delights at the mural. "One said thank you for bringing sun shine to our community. There was an elderly woman who said, "every time I come, I just feel lifted," seeing the painting elevated her.

The journey of 'Free Spirit' from Nigeria, through South Africa to Houston – its current space – needs to be documented in art history lexicon. Hopefully, the group behind the 'Free Spirit' project, Harris County-based Street Art for Mankind, will lead the way into the documentation and documentary aspect.

Ogiugo, the first elected President, Guild of Professional Fine Artists of Nigeria (GFA), extends the provenance of 'Free Spirit' onto the US secondary market. He disclosed that "the colour up" version of 'Free Spirit', produced in Nigeria ahead of his trip to the U.S., will be used as index for limited print editions to be auctioned at a later date.

-Tajudeen Sowole is a Lagos-based writer on the Arts.

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