Art exhibition, emphasis on joy launch Black History Month inside legislature

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This article was published 06/02/2025 (269 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Manitoba legislature is hosting a first-of-its-kind exhibition for Black History Month showcasing painted portraits, multimedia projects and other works by local artists.

Three Black Manitobans — Efe Ogboru, Laura Iboje and Andrew Idemudia — have lent a combined 14 canvases to the province to decorate both the front lobby and grand staircase inside 450 Broadway.

Their works have been on display since Monday and will remain until Feb. 14.

“I like simplicity. I don’t want (my paintings) to be too busy, too complicated. I try to portray the message or evoke the feelings I want to through simplicity,” Idemudia said, standing beside an oil painting depicting three West African boys playing in a river — a reference to his childhood in Nigeria.

The self-taught artist’s goal for this particular piece? To make viewers reflect on “the joys of everyday.”

The Kinew government officially unveiled the display as part of its second celebration of Black History Month on the legislature grounds.

More than 100 attendees gathered in the rotunda to hear speeches — many of which emphasized the importance of “Black joy” — eat lunch and watch performances by local drummers and dancers.

“Black excellence is not a plea for recognition. It is a testament of the countless doors we’ve kicked open when they were shut in our faces,” Winnipeg high school student Princess Akenzua told the crowd, which erupted in a standing ovation after her emotional address.

Premier Wab Kinew also spoke at the kickoff event, along with Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara and Minister of Business, Mining, Trade and Job Creation Jamie Moses. Moses introduced legislation in 2022 to officially recognize Black peoples’ contributions to the local economic, social, political and cultural life every February.

Asagwara invited attendees to view the local artists’ work.

Idemudia, 32, described being asked to take part in the exhibition as “unreal.”

“I started painting full time in 2019. I just did it sporadically before that, just for fun, so if you had told me a few years after that my art would be in a space like this, I honestly wouldn’t believe it. I would have laughed, actually,” he said.

Idemudia moved to Winnipeg in 2010 to study biology at the University of Manitoba.

It was roughly six years ago when, in response to encouragement from a supportive friend, he picked up a paint brush and began working towards his first art exhibit. He’s been painting ever since.

The Nigerian-Canada makes and sells work out of his independent studio in Winnipeg, Mudiarts.

He primarily takes inspiration from loved ones, first-hand experiences and a drive to spread love and challenge racist stereotypes. Several of his pieces at the legislature aim to showcase Black women “in an elegant, majestic way,” he said.

maggie.macintosh@freepress.mb.ca