Jonathan Imafidor
In the last eight years, Jonathan has been showcasing his art through exhibitions, mural paintings, and art workshops in the Dakotas. During this time, he also apprenticed under renowned artists John Lopez (SD) and William Massey (GA), which led to a shift in his art to sculpting using found metal objects.
Art Focus: Metal Work, Sculpture
Jonathan’s Work
Jonathan Imafidor is an artist based in Atlanta, Georgia, with a passion for nature and its influence on people. Born in Uneme-Nekhua, a small rural settlement in Southern Nigeria, Jonathan spent his early years exploring and creating art using natural materials. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Painting and an MPhil in African Art History from Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife, Nigeria, where he also later taught Painting and Drawing as a Lecturer. Jonathan has had a successful art career, with over 25 group and solo exhibitions and numerous awards to his name. In 2017 and 2018, he briefly pursued an MFA in Painting at the Savannah College of Art and Design in Atlanta GA.
Jonathan’s recent work focuses on ecological issues and often takes the form of life-size, or larger-than-life, animal sculptures that combine realism with metaphorical interpretations inspired by his African culture and his current environment in the United States. His talent and dedication to his craft were recognized when he won the “People’s 3D Choice” Award at the 2022 Artfields Art Competition in South Carolina.
He was also selected to represent the United States in an international art workshop and exhibition in Turkey, where his 20-foot-tall sculpture is now permanently displayed at the Presidential Symphony Orchestra Building.