Odinakachi Okoroafor is an art teacher and a mixed media artist who lives and works in Enugu state, Nigeria. His work is an exploration of detailed and delicate lines, inspired by barcodes and lace patterns. Using imagery from his childhood and community as a point of departure, his paintings examine the Black figure through the lenses of daily life and social and political struggle. Akin to scars — physical and symbolic — the automated barcode lines confront complex histories of the body as a commodity, both historically and in present-day contexts.
His artistic journey started somewhat out of jealousy. Initially having an interest in being a mechanical engineer, Odinakachi started borrowing the drawing book of his classmate to topple him as the most popular draughtsman in the school. He started by borrowing his drawing books which he traced and copied at home. From there, what started as a challenge became what he eventually fell in love with. His drawing skill grew as well as his interest. He enrolled in a technical school where he was introduced to different printing techniques. Consequently, he employs screen printing techniques, brush, and image transfer to create his compositions. Odinakachi holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
His first group exhibition was in 2010 with Life in My City Arts Festival (LIMCAF) at Alliance Francaise, Enugu and his first solo show Ogadinma was in 2021 at Kutlesa Gallery, Goldau, Switzerland followed by L'equilibrio della Sintesi His second solo with Alessandro Albanese the following year in Milan.
His work has been featured in exhibitions including 1-54 London Art fair, My Brother’s Keeper, Art Bridge Project, Lagos, Nigeria (2022); BLACK VOICES: Friend of My Mind, Ross-Sutton Gallery, New York, Black Excellence - Black Elegance, Ross-Sutton Gallery, Miami Beach,Untangling the Perils that Tangle Us, Kanbi Projects, London, England WOPART Fair, Kutlesa, Centro Esposizioni, Lugano, Switzerland, Say It Loud: Visionaries of Self, Christie's, New York Black Voices: Friend of My Mind, Ross-Sutton Gallery, New York, 2021 and Next of KIN, Thought Pyramid Art Centre Ikoyi., Lagos, Young Contemporaries Bootcamp exhibition, Rele Gallery, Virtual exhibitio (2020); Upcycling the New Economy II IICD center Abuja, 2019; Spanish visual Arts Competition, 11-17 December 2018, Thought Pyramid, Wuse Abuja, Nigeria. Okoroafor was among the featured artists for the 2018 UNESCO X BBUZZart Project.