From the moment she picked up a pencil at age four, Ejimaja Vivian knew she was meant to create. A self-taught artist with a background in architecture, she has transformed her love for colour, form, and storytelling into a powerful body of work that celebrates African culture, everyday life, and the female form. But her journey hasn’t been without challenges—facing gender bias in the art world, moments of self-doubt, and the pressures of breaking into the international scene. In this exclusive interview, Vivian shares how she overcame these barriers, the pivotal moment that changed her perspective on success, and why she believes no gender has the monopoly on talent.
FAB: Can you tell us about your background and how you first discovered your passion for art?
Ejimaja Vivian: My journey as a self-taught artist started when I was 4 years old. I loved colours and intricate designs imagined in my head, so I doodled and drew images very often to resemble real-life objects and people around me. This habit further developed when I began to read fairy tale storybooks from my school’s library. I loved the beautiful figures of princesses and Disney characters and tried to copy them.
While drawing then, my images were untidy as I tried to get more refined edges and straight lines. This continued until my dad encouraged me to practice drawing without erasing too much. My work became better. I started with plain pencil drawings and advanced to coloured pencils. Then I got my first set of watercolours from a favourite uncle. With that tool I began to discover how to paint and mix colours with water, which was so exciting and gave me a new perspective on mediums.
At the university, I studied architecture, which exposed me to exploring vast mediums I could work with to create art. It was while there that I started to create paintings with other mediums like oils/acrylics on canvas and mixed media art.
FAB: How would you describe your artistic style, and what makes it unique?
Ejimaja Vivian: Coming from a background in architecture, my works are usually resplendent with lines, shapes, and geometry, so I would describe my work to reflect the cubist style. I also work with bright colours, which are most associated with African beauty and culture. These features make my work unique. Never miss a beat in fashion, arts, beauty, and lifestyle, follow FAB L’Style Magazine.
Inspiration Behind Ejimaja Vivian’s Work
FAB: What inspires your work?
Ejimaja Vivian: My creations are cultural interpretations inspired by people, nature, daily experiences, and moments during my walk with God. I am especially drawn to illustrating the female figure because of her unique shape and the unlimited ways her form can be expressed in art. This trend is reflected in most of my work to date.
FAB: What materials and techniques do you enjoy working with the most?
Ejimaja Vivian: I enjoy working with oil paint, acrylic paint, and inanimate objects (apart from brushes) to create textures and variety on my canvas. I also like to create shades and monochromes of colours in my art.
Challenges Faced by Female Nigerian Artists
FAB: As a female artist in Nigeria, what challenges have you faced, and how have you overcome them?
Ejimaja Vivian: In the course of my career, I have been to galleries to show my paintings. One in particular told me that they don’t feature works from female artists because “females were too temperamental” and “artworks from female artists were not as strong as those from their male counterparts.”. Unfazed by those kinds of statements, I still continued to press further by showcasing my art at available art exhibitions, fairs, and galleries. As a reward, my works are beginning to gain recognition from various interests…clients and galleries alike.
FAB: What changes would you like to see in how female artists are supported and recognised in Nigeria?
Ejimaja Vivian: I would like to see schools and institutions encourage girls and women to take up digital art courses and programs that involve many illustrations and drawing because these pathways are usually labelled as male-dominated fields, which are not true. Starting from primary schools, art competitions should be held to encourage healthy competition between girls and boys in a bid to boost female confidence in their abilities. Organisations should also include in their CSRs sponsorship programs, e.g., awards for recognition of female artists, trips to international exhibitions, and programs to expose them in their quest for growth.
FAB: Have you ever doubted your abilities as an artist? If so, how did you push through these moments?
Ejimaja Vivian: As a self-taught artist, I have had my doubts. I had wondered if I could produce good art as those who trained in art school. I felt they had better training, were more exposed, were more creative, and could meet the demands of the international market better than I could. I had these issues until I met with the famous Bruce Onobrakpeya, who attended an art exhibition for works on display by Joe Musa at the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos, in 2006. I had carried printed copies of my art with the hope that I’d meet with him and have him analyse my work.
Fortunately, I met him and briefed him on my background as an architect. He said that my work was wonderful considering the fact that I was self-taught. He also buttressed the fact that I had no restrictions to create art since I wasn’t trained in art school and could explore unlimited possibilities and options as against someone who had trained in art school. He further signed his autograph on my pictures, which was a great delight to me, and gave me confidence in my art journey from then on.
FAB: What has been the most rewarding moment in your career so far?
Ejimaja Vivian: I have had several moments. In the year 2009, I featured in The Experience Nigeria art competition hosted by the African Arts Resource Centre (AARC), Lagos, where my work “Hairdresser 1” won the first runner-up. I have also participated on invitation at the African Day 2016 exhibition at The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Conference Centre, London. I also featured in a solo exhibition held at Artsdepot London in 2017 titled The African Woman, Her Strength, Her Beauty. In 2018, one of my paintings, “Harvesters,” was featured as a cover page for an Arts and Culture Strategy 2018/2019 booklet for the London Borough of Barnet.
Advice from Ejimaja Vivian for Aspiring Female Artists
FAB: Where do you see your art taking you in the next 5 years?
Ejimaja Vivian: In the next 5 years I aim to see my work globally recognised as art that inspires positivity and highlights the beauty of Africa.
FAB: What advice would you give aspiring female artists who are just starting out?
Ejimaja Vivian: My advice would be that they stay focused and ignore naysayers and discouragers. God gives unique gifts to everyone, and being an artist is unique, so they must explore their uniqueness. No gender has the monopoly on talent.
FAB: If you weren’t an artist, what other career path would you have chosen?
Ejimaja Vivian: Medicine and Surgery
