Williams Chechet

About the artist

 

Williams Chechet is a Nigerian pop artist, graphic designer, illustrator and muralist who was born and raised in northern Nigeria and currently lives and works in Lagos, Nigeria. Chechet is interested in images that circulate in popular culture, focusing on symbols of Nigerian society through a pop art lens. In his recent projects, Chechet explores the faces and characters of northern Nigeria as well as the leaders, icons and images that have shaped Nigeria’s political history.

Sources of inspiration

Chechet’s work draws inspiration from some of the world’s most well-known artists. Paying homage to the pop art movement of the 1960s, Chechet’s work frequently references artists such as Andy Warhol and Jean Michel Basquiat. In his Royal Niger series, Chechet layers facial features of previous Nigerian presidents alongside cartoon text, in an ode to the legendary American pop artist Roy Lichtenstein.

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Artistic intentions
 

Chechet’s work puts a spotlight on the faces and characters of Northern Nigeria as well as the leaders, politicians and other prominent figures who have shaped Nigeria’s socio-polotical history. Chechet intends to encourage people to think about these figures and the impact - both positive and negative - that they have had on the country. His style centres around the fusion of traditional African imagery with Western pop art, blending the past with the present and incorporating elements of history, tradition, Afro-futurism, Afrobeats and popular culture.

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Influence of Sounds - Seeing Sounds exhibition

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‘As artists, we all have that one thing that makes us tick, lifts our spirit and ignites our creative side. For me, that one thing is music. The unity, rhythm, movement, harmony, beats and sound waves travelling into my ears usually elicit physical and emotional responses which in turn inspires every stroke, colour, shape and line within my artwork. I draw inspiration from a wide pool of musical genres, ranging from rap to opera, hip-hop, jazz, country music, and much more. The impact of sound on my art cannot be overstated - it plays a key role in my creative and design process.’

Going forward

“I believe that the role of an artist is to inspire and energise people - I want to encourage people to pursue their passions in whatever field through my art. I want my art to serve as visual stimuli, capable of creating an emotional reaction to its complexity." - Williams Chechet