Emmanuel Udeh is a Toronto based visual artist working primarily in drawing and mixed media. Originally from Nigeria, he rediscovered his passion for art during the COVID-19 pandemic, reconnecting with a childhood talent rooted in quiet observation and sensitivity to people. Emmanuel’s work blends realistic portraiture with abstract and symbolic elements, using charcoal, graphite, colored pencil, and watercolor to explore themes of identity, emotion, and the human experience. His practice is driven by a desire to see and reveal what is often overlooked, creating intimate and thoughtful works that invite viewers to slow down, feel, and reflect.

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​My work explores what it means to see and be seen. As a quiet observer, I’m drawn to people and moments that often go unnoticed. Using charcoal, graphite, coloured pencil, and mixed media, I blend realism with abstraction to reveal emotional depth and humanity. I often use stick-figure bodies to represent the human form because they strip away detail and ego, reducing people to their simplest, most vulnerable essence. This contrast with realistic eyes and faces highlights how much of our identity is overlooked. My practice focuses on visibility, identity, and the inner lives of individuals society tends to ignore.