BIO

Emmanuel Udeh is a contemporary artist born in 1993 in Lagos, Nigeria, and currently based in Toronto, Canada. Working primarily with charcoal and graphite on paper, he is known for combining finely rendered realism with simplified stickman figures, creating a unique visual language that sits between precision and abstraction. His work focuses on solitary subjects and emotional stillness, using minimal forms to explore themes of sadness, vulnerability, and restraint.

Udeh’s drawings often center on the emotional states we try to hide, grief, quiet suffering, and personal identity. His series Silent Observers (2024) featured disembodied eyes attached to stickman forms, evoking the tension between watching and being watched. In 2025, his solo exhibition, Growing, showcased personal works that reflected his development over time. In Cry Me a River (2025), a seated woman with a tear and a yellow boot symbolizes unspoken sadness and the quiet strength of staying grounded. Across these works, Udeh brings together symbolic simplicity and emotional realism to create powerful, quiet scenes.

He has exhibited at Show Gallery in Toronto, Canada; Propeller Art Gallery in Toronto, Canada; and the Toronto Outdoor Art Fair in Toronto, Canada. His work is held in private collections both nationally and internationally, and he has participated in events such as the Toronto Outdoor Art Fair Festival in Toronto.