The death of renowned Nigerian visual artist and cultural icon Paddy Obinna has drawn tributes from members of the cultural community, with many describing his passing as a major loss to the preservation and promotion of Nigeria’s artistic heritage.
Obinna died on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, after a brief illness, bringing to an end a career that spanned more than five decades in visual arts, graphic design and cultural advocacy.
Among those who paid tribute was Vitalis Orikeze Ajumbe, who described the late artist as a dependable ally whose contributions to arts and culture would continue to inspire future generations.
In a statement released on Friday, July 3, 2026, Ajumbe said the cultural and artistic community had suffered an irreplaceable loss with Obinna’s passing.
“The cultural world has suffered a major setback with Obinna’s death,” Ajumbe said.
He described Obinna as “a creative genius” whose warmth, friendliness and commitment to preserving culture endeared him to everyone who came in contact with him.
According to Ajumbe, Obinna’s legacy would remain a source of inspiration for artists, cultural enthusiasts and future generations committed to preserving Nigeria’s rich heritage.
He urged the late artist’s family, friends and associates to take solace in the impactful life he lived and the enduring contributions he made to the nation’s cultural development.
Obinna was widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s foremost visual artists and cultural promoters.
Born on March 13, 1944, he hailed from Umuocham, Emekuku, in Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo State, and became celebrated for his efforts in promoting Igbo arts and culture through painting, sculpture, graphic design and cultural education.
Over the years, he served as Artistic Coordinator for FESTAC ’77 in Imo State, coordinated the Better Life Fair art projects in the state and later became Managing Director of the Centre for Craft, Fashion and Design in Egbu, Owerri.
He was also credited with designing the iconic Ahiajoku Festival logo in 1976, one of the enduring symbols of Igbo cultural identity.
His artistic works appeared in churches, hotels, public institutions and private collections across Nigeria, while his private gallery in Emekuku became a repository of paintings, sculptures, cultural artefacts and preserved wildlife specimens that attracted scholars, tourists and art lovers.
In one of his last public interviews in 2025, Obinna expressed concern over what he described as the gradual decline of Nigeria’s arts and culture sector.
“Tourism and art is dying in the country with little or no recognition,” he said, while calling for renewed investment in arts education and the preservation of indigenous craftsmanship.
Ajumbe disclosed that, according to Obinna’s first son, the late cultural icon will be buried on Wednesday, August 19, 2026.
He prayed for the peaceful repose of Obinna’s soul and asked God to grant his family the strength to bear the loss, expressing confidence that the artist’s enduring legacy would continue to shape Nigeria’s cultural landscape for generations to come.