Los Angeles’ Corey Helford Gallery is set to open its Main Gallery on October 11th for a major new exhibition that plunges into the depths of human connection and emotional interconnectedness. Titled ‘The Weight of Us,’ this powerful duo exhibition features solo works from two world-renowned Nigerian hyper-realist artists, Arinze Stanley and Oscar Ukonu. Together, their compelling visions create an intricate dialogue on shared humanity, and the complex threads weaving individual and collective narratives.
Amidst a world fraught with division, The Weight of Us is an act of reclamation: an invitation to pause, to look, and truly see. It is here that the weight of our individual and collective stories becomes, paradoxically, a source of beauty and hope. This exhibition affirms art’s enduring capacity to bridge divides, to illuminate common ground, and to hold space for the tender, unyielding essence of our shared humanity.
Corey Helford Gallery
Arinze Stanley’s breathtaking charcoal drawings – often incorporating mixed media – offer a profound intimacy that is both unflinching and compassionate. It is hard to look away; he masterfully uses the contrast of monochromatic and vividly rendered figures, amplifying the raw emotional tension inherent in human relationships.
Commanding equal attention are the works of Oscar Ukonu, whose intricate drawings are, perhaps surprisingly, crafted entirely with a ballpoint pen. His bold, monochromatic blue hues are unmistakeable as his works explore a vital sociocultural dialogue: “one focused on collective identity, the existential weight of information, and our interconnected existence” explains Corey Helford Gallery.
‘The Weight of Us’ promises to be an informative, inspiring, and thought-provoking showcase of exceptional contemporary representational art, inviting audiences to explore the stunning detail and deep narrative power achieved by these two phenomenal Nigerian artists. Read ahead to learn more.
Arinze Stanley and Oscar Ukonu: “The Weight of Us”
Opening reception: October 11, 2025, 7:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Dates: October 11 – November 15, 2025
COREY HELFORD GALLERY:
Main Gallery: 571 S. Anderson St. Los Angeles, CA 90033
Open: Tuesday-Saturday, 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm
(310) 287-2340
Open to the public and free to attend, The Weight of Us is set to debut on Saturday, October 11th from 7:00 pm – 11:00 pm in the Main Gallery, alongside a solo show by Japanese artist aica, titled Where Petals Dance, in Gallery 2 and a solo show by Latvia-born artist Jana Brike, titled When I Was a River, in Gallery 3. All shows will be on view at CHG through November 15th.
From press release //
About Arinze Stanley:
Arinze Stanley Egbengwu (b. 1993, Lagos) is a Nigerian artist whose practice is centered on drawing and painting, with a focus on hyper-realistic portraiture. He began making art in childhood, often working with paper from his family’s business, and later studied agricultural engineering at Imo State University. This combination of early passion and academic training shaped the careful and structured methods he now applies in his studio.
Guided by the three P’s: patience, practice, and persistence, Stanley creates large-scale portraits on paper and canvas. He fuses charcoal, graphite, pastel, and coloured pencil with acrylic and paints with oil, using experimentation to push a mixed media language that broadens his narrative voice.
He is the founder of The Pond Studio in Lagos, Nigeria, a creative workspace and residency he established to support younger artists and encourage exchange within the local art community. Stanley’s debut group show was held in Nigeria in 2016 and since then, he has exhibited around the world (including all around the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Denmark), as well as in museums (including at the European Museum of Modern Art (MEAM) in Barcelona) and at notable art fairs (including Art Miami, SCOPE Art Show, and 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair). Plus, the artist’s work has been profiled by multiple global media companies.
About Oscar Ukonu:
Oscar Ukonu (b. 1993) is a visual artist living and working in Lagos, Nigeria. With a background in architecture, Ukonu’s distinctive portraiture investigates the complexities of African identity through cultural, psychological, and sociopolitical lenses. Drawing on personal experience and historical references, Ukonu explores how contemporary identities are shaped by media, technology, and shifting cultural narratives.
Ukonu’s work is represented in significant private and institutional collections in Nigeria and internationally, and has been featured in exhibitions such as Insanity (Omenka Gallery, Lagos, 2016), Nigeria 5 (Corridor Contemporary, Tel Aviv, 2021), Souls and Spirits (Voltz Clarke Gallery, New York, 2022), and Mirrors of Our Time (Alexis Gallery, Lagos, 2024). He has also completed commissions for institutions (including UNICEF and The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, creating the official campaign art for the 2022 Oscars).
About Corey Helford Gallery //
Established in 2006 by Jan Corey Helford and her husband, television producer/creator Bruce Helford (The Conners, Lopez vs. Lopez, Anger Management, The Drew Carey Show, and George Lopez), Corey Helford Gallery (CHG) has since evolved into one of the premier galleries of New Contemporary art. Its goal as an institution is to support the growth of artists, from the young and emerging to the well-known and internationally established. CHG represents a diverse collection of international artists, primarily influenced by today’s pop culture and collectively encompassing style genres such as New Figurative Art, Pop Surrealism, Neo Pop, Graffiti, and Street Art.
