John Madu

A self-taught artist with a B.Sc. in Policy and Strategic Studies, Madu has developed a distinctive, multidisciplinary practice that spans painting, sculpture, design objects, and wearable art. He works across a variety of media—including acrylic, oil, spray paint, ink, burlap, and collage—bringing together diverse materials in ways that echo his eclectic range of influences.

Best known for his figurative and symbolic visual language, Madu’s work explores themes such as identity, social behavior, and the impact of cultural globalization on the self. His paintings are rich with recurring iconography—books, apples, and other everyday objects become metaphors, layered with meaning and open to interpretation. Drawing inspiration from popular culture, African and global art history, and personal experience, his work is both introspective and socially engaged. Much of Madu’s art responds to the world around him—addressing political issues, societal shifts, and the nuances of daily life. His process often incorporates references from books, magazines, social media, and real-time events, allowing him to document contemporary realities while inviting viewers into a space of reflection and dialogue. For Madu, the most powerful art educates, provokes, and entertains in equal measure.

Madu’s work has been exhibited in contemporary art shows both locally and internationally. He is currently exhibiting at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam as part of the exhibition Van Gogh and John Madu: Paint Your Path, for which he created ten paintings in dialogue with the Dutch master’s work. 

He sees art as a continuum—timeless, like nature—and believes it should serve as a mirror of the creative spirit, capturing fleeting moments of expression and insight whenever a viewer engages with it.