We are thrilled to feature Etienne Benedict Akpan in this edition of our Artist Spotlight, highlighting his creative journey, artistic vision, and inspiring contributions to contemporary African art.
Etienne Benedict Akpan is a Nigerian artist whose work reflects personal experience, cultural heritage, and environmental consciousness. Raised in Uyo, Akwa Ibom, he developed his craft independently, drawing inspiration from everyday narratives, spirituality, and societal challenges.
Since relocating to Lagos in 2021, he has participated in residencies and programs, including Madhouse by Tikera Africa and Artvocacy by Street Project Foundation, creating work that engages social justice, music history, and environmental themes. His art has been exhibited internationally, from Vancouver to London, and reflects a commitment to storytelling, activism, and creative innovation.
ARTISTIC JOURNEY
How do you prefer to be identified?
I create under the artist identity Tben Vox, which represents the multidisciplinary nature of my practice across visual art, music, and narrative expression. My official name is used for formal documentation, while Tben Vox is the public-facing artistic identity.
I primarily work with mixed media, often incorporating recycled and found materials as part of a sustainability-driven practice.
How did your journey as an artist begin?
My journey into art began in childhood, driven by a natural love for drawing. I was inspired early on by comic books such as Super Strikers and Spiderman, which became my first visual references and practice tools. What started as a hobby for fun gradually became a consistent habit.
In secondary school, my dedication became noticeable to peers and teachers, and I was often asked to create hand-drawn signages for school events. Through art practicals and constant self-practice, I developed a strong interest in drawing realistic portraits, which pushed me to keep refining my skills.
By university, while studying Agricultural Engineering, my artistic practice had grown more defined. I began taking on commissioned pencil portraits and calligraphy signages for clients and events. Although I didn’t fully understand what it meant to be an artist at the time, art had already chosen me; and over the years, I’ve continued to embrace and evolve that calling.
Was there a defining moment that made you take art seriously?
Yes. A defining moment for me came during my university years. While studying Agricultural Engineering, I began to realize that the academic path I was on didn’t align with my strengths or passion. I struggled with the system, felt disconnected from the process, and went through a period of deep personal reflection.
In 2015, I made the difficult decision to step away from university and take responsibility for my own path. It was a risky choice, and I knew it would change how people perceived me, but it also shifted my mindset completely. I committed to taking my creative practice seriously; not just as a talent, but as a calling and a path of value.
From that point, I immersed myself in different creative spaces, working on film sets, assisting where I could, learning by doing, and expanding my practice beyond drawing. That decision marked the moment I chose to fully embrace art as both purpose and profession.
How would you describe your artistic style?
“My artistic style is multidisciplinary and intuitive, rooted in mixed media and the use of recycled or found materials. The work blends contemporary visual language with spiritual reflection, cultural memory, and social awareness. I’m drawn to organic textures and symbolic forms that speak to growth, renewal, and the relationship between human experience and nature.
Each piece is process-led, allowing emotion, experimentation, and material to guide the final outcome, rather than fixed rules or aesthetics.
What inspires your work the most?
Nature is my primary source of inspiration. I’m deeply drawn to natural spaces like gardens, farms, rivers, the ocean, forests. Just places where I find stillness and clarity. Observing the moon, clouds, and living forms in nature often sparks visual ideas and symbolic forms in my work. These moments of presence awaken my imagination and guide the emotional tone of my pieces. My African heritage and spirituality also shape my practice. I’m inspired by ancestral histories, cultural memory, and the spiritual consciousness that connects human experience to the natural world. Personal experiences and human stories influence my work as well, listening to people, observing social dynamics, and moving through different environments often become starting points for new ideas.
Can you walk us through your creative process – from concept to finished piece?
My creative process often begins in stillness, in quiet spaces, reflective moments, or in the depth of the night, where imagination comes alive. Ideas usually arrive as feelings, images, or inner impressions. Sometimes a personal experience or someone’s story becomes the trigger, and I sit with it, replaying the emotion and asking what can be transformed or alchemized through art.
From there, I move into intuitive research by exploring the history, context, and possibilities around a theme. I allow the subject to settle within me until I can translate it into metaphor rather than literal representation. Symbolism is central to my work, and even the recycled materials I use are intentional and metaphorical, carrying meaning beyond their physical form. I follow a less is more approach, where every color, texture, and element has a backstory.
Once the concept is clear, I sketch and explore variations, sometimes over an extended period, until the work holds emotional depth and direction. Material choices come last, guided by what best serves the story. By the time I enter production, the piece is already formed in my mind, allowing the making process to flow without rush or pressure. I work with timelines to stay present and avoid overworking, leaving space for the viewer’s own interpretation.
Throughout the journey, I document everything, from notes and mood boards to experiments, so the final piece carries the full memory of its becoming.
Are they recurring themes, stories, or messages in your work?
Yes, there are recurring themes and messages that run through my work. I often explore the relationship between humans and nature, using natural forms and recycled materials to speak about renewal, interconnection, and responsibility to our environment.
Spiritual reflection and cultural memory also appear consistently in my practice, especially themes of inner awareness, ancestral presence, and the idea that there is an infinite spirit within us. Alongside this, I return to human stories and social awareness, using symbolism and metaphor to reflect on emotions, identity, struggle, and transformation.
CURRENT WORK AND ACHIEVEMENTS
What project or body of work are you currently focused on?
I am currently focused on PATAN which stands for Pay Attention to All Nature. This is a multidisciplinary body of work that connects visual artworks with a musical EP, exploring themes of social awareness, self love, self awareness, authenticity, cultural identity, and environmental consciousness. The project reflects on focus, purpose, relationships, and personal growth, drawing parallels between how we care for ourselves and how we care for nature, seeing both as deeply interconnected rather than separate.
The visual works are developed from the emotional landscape of the songs, expanding their narratives through symbolism and metaphor to question systems of power, oppression, and social conditioning. While most of the artworks in this series are completed, one piece is still in development as I continue to sit with the emotions of the music. The body of work has been presented in a private listening context, but the artworks are yet to be formally exhibited, and I am currently exploring opportunities for a dedicated pop up or exhibition.
Alongside this, I am nurturing TRANSMUTE, a project focused on transforming emotional states into art, which I am developing into limited prints and wearable pieces that embody my Greenlife philosophy.
What piece or achievement are you most proud of so far, and why?
One of the works I am most proud of is Believe, a 4 x 4 piece created during my second artist residency in Lagos in 2024, hosted by Pop Central TV in collaboration with Mad House by Tekira. The residency focused on honoring the history of Nigerian music from 1974 to 2024, and my work responded to Burna Boy’s first Grammy win. As both a musician and visual artist, this story resonated deeply with me. It represented perseverance, faith in one’s path, and the power of belief in the face of obstacles.
The exhibition that followed brought together voices from both the art and music communities, and the response to Believe affirmed the alignment between my visual practice and my musical journey. During this period, I was also commissioned by Hennessy to create an artwork acknowledging their long standing support of the music industry. This moment felt like a meaningful milestone in my practice, where research, storytelling, and purpose came together in a way that was publicly received and understood.
CHALLENGES AND GROWTH
What challenges have you faced as an artist?
One of the main challenges I face is balancing pure creation with the practicalities of visibility and sharing work. I want to focus fully on bringing my ideas to life, but navigating social media, intellectual property concerns, and systems that can feel gatekeeping adds complexity. It can be difficult to decide how much of my process to share, or how to maintain control over my ideas while still reaching an audience.
Other challenges include working in an environment where original, authentic stories are not always easily embraced, and navigating economic constraints. I have learned to manage these tensions by creating from a place of love rather than survival, and by carefully curating what I share publicly versus what I keep in my creative portfolio.
How do you stay motivated or overcome creative blocks?
I see creative blocks as a signal from my body and mind to rest and return to presence. To overcome them, I reconnect with childlike play, nature, family, and simple joys that spark imagination. Traveling to new places, observing my environment, and engaging in personal reflection all help me reignite creativity.
One piece of advice for emerging artists
Embrace your uniqueness and remain consistent in your practice. Art is not just about materials; it is also about self-development and mindset. Not everyone will immediately accept your originality, so staying grounded in your authenticity and practicing daily helps you build resilience and deepen your creative voice.
COMMUNITY AND IMPACT
What do you hope people feel or take away when they experience your work?
People experience a sense of nostalgia and childlike openness when they encounter my work. The bright colors, playful forms, and familiar symbols are meant to feel inviting, while the deeper layers of symbolism encourage reflection and self awareness.
Beyond the surface, I want the work to gently lead people inward. Even when the themes are serious, the language remains accessible, allowing viewers to connect emotionally before they begin to question, reflect, or recognize parts of themselves in the story. If someone walks away feeling seen, stirred, or inspired to reflect on their own truth, then the work has fulfilled its purpose.
In your opinion, how can art impact society or culture today?
Art has the power to open conversations that are often avoided and to humanize experiences that feel distant or abstract. It creates emotional entry points into social, cultural, and spiritual realities, allowing people to feel before they analyze.
In today’s world, art can act as both a mirror and a catalyst. It reflects who we are as a society while also offering new ways of seeing, questioning harmful systems, and imagining more conscious ways of living, relating, and caring for one another and our environment.
LOOKING AHEAD
What are you currently working towards or planning next?
I am currently focused on developing the Transmute project mentioned previously, creating limited edition prints and wearable art pieces as part of my Greenlife philosophy. This project reflects on themes of social awareness, self love, self-awareness, and paying attention to all aspects of nature and human experience.
Beyond this, I am planning to participate in more art residencies, particularly internationally, to experience new cultures, collaborate with other artists, and expand my creative horizons. I am also passionate about sharing knowledge with young people, and I look forward to establish an unconventional art center where children with a love for art can explore multiple disciplines in a supportive environment. Overall, my goal is to continue developing my practice with intent and consistency, creating meaningful work that engages both myself and my community.
Notable Artworks by Etienne Benedict Akpan (Tben Vox)
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