Glasgow Kelvin College is proud to share that HNC Digital Design & Illustration student Chinyere Ikwuagwu has had her artwork exhibited at Westfield London as part of Black History Month celebrations.
Chinyere’s exhibited piece, Je Uwa (Life’s Journey), was originally created during her NQ Portfolio year at Level 6. The work began as a striking mask constructed from rope and beads, drawing inspiration from the ancient Nok art tradition and the masquerades of her Igbo heritage in Nigeria.
Describing the piece as a deeply personal exploration of mental health, motherhood, and identity, Chinyere explains:
“The rope represents both heaviness and guidance – the weight of those struggles, and the thread that reconnects me to my values and identity. The beads symbolise community, belonging, and the many identities we carry with pride.”
Aligned with this year’s Black History Month theme, “Standing Firm in Power and in Pride,” Je Uwa pays tribute to the resilience of the Windrush Generation, celebrating culture as both an anchor and a source of strength.
This national recognition is a powerful testament to Chinyere’s creativity, courage, and storytelling through design, and a proud moment for the College’s Creative Industries department.
Congratulations to Chinyere on this outstanding achievement.
