Helen Ogochukwu Nzete
Helen Ogochukwu Nzete, born in 1986, is more than an award-winning artist; she's a perceptive observer of society's intricacies and a sensitive soul. Graduating from the renowned Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, with a specialisation in Fine Arts and a focus on sculpture, Helen's artistry defies conventional boundaries.
Her creations seamlessly blend everyday elements like beads, coins, and newspapers, capturing the subtle nuances of daily life. This unique fusion harmoniously merges elements from nature, emotions, the environment, and a touch of rebellion, symbolising the boundless power of artistic expression.
Fueled by an unwavering commitment to address societal issues, Helen's mixed media paintings delve into character psychology, fearlessly challenging society's shortcomings and advocating for change. Her introspection drives her to explore innovative techniques, utilising art as a powerful medium for engagement.
Currently based in Abuja, Nigeria, her studio is both a creative haven and a source of inspiration and mentorship for the younger generation, nurturing a new wave of artistic sensibility.
In 2021, Helen achieved acclaim by winning the Visual Arts Competition hosted by the Spanish Embassy. Her artwork 'Generations 2' graced the cover of the book 'In her Words,' featured on the Cambridge Africa official site. Furthermore, her exceptional talent earned her the title of 'Inspiring Artist of the Year 2023' from the National Gallery of Arts.
Helen Nzete will be represented by unx-art at the inaugural edition of Africa Basel, taking place from 1–22 June 2025 in parallel with Art Basel, the largest contemporary art fair in the world.
Stay tuned to discover her featured works and exclusive Africa Basel curation.
What Fabric Holds: A Material Examination of Memory
18 March – 16 April 2026 | KUNSThouse H30, Zurich
Set within a historic former silk factory, What Fabric Holds explores memory through textile, surface, and ritual form. Featuring six contemporary artists from Nigeria and Sierra Leone, the exhibition proposes that history is materially constructed rather than merely narrated. Here, pigment and gesture transmit memory through spatial logic.
Through the Eyes of Gaga: Louise Metzger & the shaping of modern artistic practice in Sierra Leone
February 14–21, 2026 | unx-art gallery, Leicester Peak, Freetown
Discover the enduring legacy of Louise “Gaga” Metzger, the visionary educator and founder who shaped Sierra Leonean modernism. Explore her textile-inspired monoprints alongside works by the mentees she inspired. This exhibition celebrates artistic transmission, honoring a spirit that built the foundations of our visual culture.
Wetin bɛ: Freetown in Retrospect
October 25–26, 2025 | unx-gallery, Leicester Peak, Freetown
A quiet meditation on Freetown’s disappearing wooden houses—the bod ose built by freed Africans in the late 18th century. In translucent washes of colour, John Francis transforms erasure into memory, painting architecture as living history. Through water and light, he asks a simple question with a heavy echo: Wetin bɛ? — what happened?
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Regards croisés: west Africa reflected on lake geneva
July 31 – August 20, 2025 | Clinique de Genolier, Switzerland
An unexpected dialogue between West African contemporary art and Swiss serenity. Eight artists from Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Togo explore resilience, identity, and healing in unx-art’s second Swiss exhibition, set in a space where care and creativity meet.
Africa Basel: Held in memory, Forged in Form
June 18 – 21, 2025 | Ackermannshof, Basel, Switzerland
UNX Art’s exhibition Held in Memory, Forged in Form features Helen Nzete and Clément Gbegno, presenting sculptural and abstract works that reflect themes of memory, disappearance, and emotional restoration.
Matter of Now: 7 Nigerian minds in Freetown
May 16 – 24, 2025 | unx-art Gallery, Freetown, Sierra Leone
A collective exhibition presenting eight Nigerian artists delving into the complexity of the present moment — where memory, culture, and introspection intersect — in unx-art’s debut show at its Freetown gallery.
Giving Goddess: unx-art gallery space debutes
March 20 – April 30, 2025 | unx-art Gallery, Freetown, Sierra Leone
A solo exhibition by Hawa-Jane Bangura, blending digital and traditional media to celebrate African history, femininity, and solidarity. unx-art’s inaugural exhibition in Freetown introduced her empowering vision to a new audience.