ARTIST BIO

Bernice U. is a self-taught contemporary Nigerian-Canadian artist, currently residing in London, Ontario, Canada.

Despite limited early encouragement, her creative spirit thrived, transforming everyday materials into art. This passion persisted throughout her journalism degree and brief career as an on-air personality, yet she soon realized that the corporate world wasn’t her true calling.

Relocating to Canada opened new creative avenues, allowing her to blend her Nigerian heritage and experiences as a Black woman into her art. Her work explores the natural “curves” of life—its joys, struggles, growth, and connections.

She celebrates womanhood, faith, and Black identity through textured forms and vibrant colours, capturing the beauty of everyday moments. Bernice’s art reaches out to others who connect with her story, fostering understanding and connection along the way.

Bernice currently works out of her studio in London, Canada.

ARTIST STATEMENT

My art merges painting and sculpture, transforming traditional canvases into textured, three-dimensional experiences. I work with materials like plaster, clay, acrylic paint, and resin to build depth, movement into each piece.

Much of my work portrays women—figures of strength, grace, and identity. I draw from my Nigerian heritage and my life in Canada, blending traditional and contemporary influences to explore themes of womanhood, faith, and the quiet power found in resilience.

Through this fusion, I aim to create art that feels alive—inviting viewers to slow down, reflect, and connect with the emotions and stories layered within each piece. My work captures the “curves” of life—its complexity, its beauty, and the strength that often hides in plain sight.

Each piece serves as a tangible reflection of becoming—shaped by my own experiences and the shared humanity that binds us. For me, art is a way to give back to the world—to create spaces of beauty, truth, and connection that remind us to pause, breathe, and see ourselves more clearly.