Ije
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Ije (pronounced eejay). A multidisciplinary artist whose sensuous practice spans painting, sculpture, and large-scale installation. My work is grounded in material transformation, embodied movement, and the shifting relationships between interior and exterior states. Central to my current practice is the concept of perdurance – the idea that the self is a fluid entity composed of temporal parts in constant flux. I frequently incorporate found and re-used materials – silicone, textiles, mirrored glass, and industrial swarf – chosen for their histories and the way they hold memory. Through layering, rhythmic mark-making, and repetition, I create tactile forms that invite viewers to encounter themselves differently. My practice is deeply shaped by a lifetime of movement across landscapes; born in Scotland to British/Nigerian heritage, my work reflects a sense of transition and porous identity: “Mmiri Mmiri / I am fluid”. Movement is the durational thread in my practice. Since 2012, long-distance walking and slow running have informed my attention to rhythm and the body’s negotiation of space. This embodied approach is evident in my sculptural and painting language, where materials act as skin, sinews or “rivers of sweat,” and explore aerial, interior/exterior perspectives and ancestral geographies. I hold an MA in Fine Art from Birmingham City University. A 2025 Freelands Foundation/a-n bursary recipient and the Chameleon Arts Prize winner (2019). I am a Trustee and Ambassador for the UK charity Outside In, dedicated to supporting artists facing barriers.