Roaring Through Silence: How Art Became My Voice of Survival

Interview with artist Nedum Udeze

1. Please tell us something about your background and your art journey so far.

My name is Nedum Udeze, a Nigerian-born visual artist currently based in Derby, UK. I was raised in a flood-prone village from the Igbo region in Nigeria, a place marked by hardship, displacement, and inherited trauma from the Biafran War. I trained as a civil engineer, but over time, painting became more than a passion, it became survival. Art offered me a voice when there was no one to hear me, and it has since evolved into a tool of resilience and cultural remembrance. Today, I create large-scale hyperrealistic paintings of lions and tigers, not simply as wildlife, but as symbols of my people’s strength, our scars, and the pride of our heritage

2. Describe what a normal day looks like as an artist.

My days are a delicate balance of survival and creativity. I currently work full-time at a warehouse to support myself, as I’m not yet earning a sustainable income from my art. This job allows me to fund my materials, meet my living expenses, and invest in opportunities like exhibitions. After long, physically demanding shifts, I return home to paint deep into the night, often sleeping just a few hours before repeating the cycle. My studio is also my bedroom; I gave up my bed to create space and now sleep on a mattress on the floor. Every stroke I make is a sacrifice, a quiet promise to myself that all this effort will be worth it. My day may begin with labour, but it ends in passion.

3. Can you tell us more about the theme in your art and your inspiration?

The central themes of my work are survival, resilience, and cultural heritage. I use lions and tigers as metaphorical extensions of my personal and communal story, beings that embody endurance, trauma, dignity, and ancestral strength. My inspiration comes from the enduring legacy of the Igbo people, particularly the generational wounds of the Nigerian-Biafran War where millions died in silence. My paintings give voice to that silence. The stare of a lion in my work isn’t just a gaze. it’s a reminder of what we've endured and a declaration that we are still here.

4. How does your art life impact other parts of your life?

Art has completely transformed my life. It’s given me meaning, a path, and a global voice. Emotionally, it has healed wounds I didn’t know I carried. Practically, it has connected me to exhibitions in London and opened doors to opportunities like the UK Global Talent Visa. Personally, it’s helped me build community, connecting with people who resonate with my story, like Kelvin Okafor, whom I recently met and who recognized and encouraged my journey. Art has redefined who I am and what I believe is possible.

5. Could you share any difficulties and hardships you had to face in life and how or if you managed/overcame them?

I’ve lived through poverty, war-inflicted generational trauma, and silence. As a young boy, I was familiar with the sound of rain not as beauty, but as flood. We often went to bed hungry. Later, I pursued civil engineering while secretly painting, battling internal fear and societal expectations. Moving to the UK brought new hurdles, financial, emotional, and professional, but I’ve met each with fierce determination. I overcame by turning pain into brushstrokes, and silence into visual roars. I survived, and now, I paint survival.

6. Tell us about your best experience in the art world so far.

One of my most memorable experiences was exhibiting at Boomer Gallery in London, my debut show. Seeing “Roar Within” and “Survivor’s Gaze” displayed on those pristine walls felt like a breakthrough. But more powerful was meeting Kelvin Okafor in person at Hope93 Gallery. He not only recognized me but expressed interest in endorsing me. As someone I deeply admire, that moment validated my struggles and affirmed my artistic path. It told me, “You belong here.”

7. Share your worst experience in the art world.

The hardest part has been navigating rejection in silence, emails that go unanswered, applications ignored, or assumptions made about who I am based on where I come from. I’ve also faced internal doubt. But even those experiences became fuel. They pushed me to go deeper, to refine my voice and keep working until my art could no longer be ignored.

8. What practical advice can you give to fellow artists?

Stay true to your vision. It’s easy to get lost trying to impress or fit in, but your power is in your authenticity. Don’t rush recognition, build depth first. Network, yes, but don’t compromise your story. Document everything, apply widely, and never be ashamed of your beginnings. If your art comes from truth, it will eventually find its audience.

9. Is the artist life lonely? Please share your thoughts and experiences.

Yes, it can be. I’ve cried while painting. I’ve doubted myself endlessly. But loneliness is also where I found my deepest truths. Being an artist is learning to sit with silence, and make it speak. That solitude is not absence, it’s presence. It makes the rare moments of connection even more powerful.

10. What are you working on at the moment and are there any upcoming events you would like to talk about?

Currently, I’m completing a new lion piece for The Holy Art Gallery exhibition this June. I also have upcoming shows at SB Art Gallery and LumiNoir Art. These are all major milestones for me as I build my eligibility for the UK Global Talent Visa. I’m pushing boundaries technically and emotionally in this new series. It’s my loudest roar yet.

Social Media: @nedumudeze_arts