Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Williams Merenini. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Williams , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?

Well, it was not easy while I was in school, shuffling school works, because I studied Fine and Applied Arts in school. Shuffling that with my personal practices and commissions.
Commission jobs that I got were jobs for the moment and to not die of starvation as an Emerging Artist and also to pay bills including school ones too. My personal practice works are works I do to prepare for big opportunities like exhibitions and hoping for art collectors buying from me and promoting me.

But ever since I finished last year, I have been getting commission jobs and I have been living and also funding my personal practice works very well and better than before. Because I am no longer pressured to create works for school anymore, I had had time and enough funds, so I was able to create a few works that I used in winning some international competitions very early this year.

The process is not easy I must say but I believe there’s going to be a good result and evidence of my consistency eventually.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Williams’ artistry masterfully captures the intricacies and paradoxes of human nature through vibrant brushstrokes and colors on canvas. His works showcases the multifaceted aspects of personality, highlighting the dynamic tension between individuality and unity. This is strikingly evident in the textured, polychromatic skin tones of his subjects.

Through his art, Williams documents the complex interplay between mental health, emotions, and personal expression. He explores how individuals navigate their unique experiences and relationships, influencing their interactions with the world. Williams’ work serves as a powerful catalyst for empathy, encouraging viewers to walk in others’ shoes which he tries to depict on the skin of his subjects in his paintings. He also paints his view of things, his life’s wishes, past experiences and family. Painting to him is like when people write in a diary.

By sharing his vision, Williams aims to inspire hope and uplift those who are struggling. His artistry transcends aesthetics, fostering a deeper understanding of our shared humanity.

Williams Emeka Merenini is a Nigerian-born visual artist who hails from Naze, Imo state. He received formal art training at Topfat Art Studio (which is owned by the great painter, Tope Fatunmbi), where he honed his artistic dexterity and also networked with creative minds in the art space. Before the official art tuition, Williams grew up loving to draw, then as a child, his friends and neighbors would pay him for his cartoon Character drawings. Drawings of Ben-10, Avatar the last air bender and also Samson from the Bible while he was trying to tear the lion’s mouth.
Williams has featured in different exhibitions which includes; Nu-Africa online exhibition on Artsy, exhibited at the Lagos to London Book launch at the British High Commissioner’s residence in Ikoyi, Lagos. He also featured in the exhibition “IMPRESS ME” along with 10 other artist at Alexis Galleries at VI Lagos Nigeria curated by
Princess Uzor  founder of Lagos Art Shows.

He also participated in the 2023 Exhibition with LIFE IN MY CITY (LIMCAF) in Owerri, Nigeria. Williams graduated in 2024 from his 4years Art program in Imo State University, Nigeria. Williams Emeka Merenini recently won the award of First place at the Cross Current’s “Timeless” competition and online art exhibition, 2025.
He won second place award with Bluespace Gallery in their online competition and exhibition.
His painting print featured in a physical show at Metuchen, Nails In The Wall Gallery, The “3” exhibition.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

In 2022, I participated in an exhibition with a few other artists. A week before the exhibition, one of the curators of the exhibition posted in the WhatsApp group that was created just for the exhibition that my three (3) works for the show was sold out. The show was to last for about two weeks.
I was so excited and in delirious because I was happy that I worked and invested in creating those pieces and it’s going to be paying off soon and off course that I sold out before the show even began.

I was living my life to the fullest and I was spending the funds I had in me without fears knowing fully well that my money would be sent to me soon. 2weeks after the show 2weeks exhibition, I called one of the curators to tell me when I was going to get my cut from the sales of the works, he told me that the buyer thought the price was this , which it was not and he wasn’t capable of paying for it. So it was not sold. While I was living in excitement, many people already believed I sold out and I already got a lot of congratulations from people and even artists that were with me in the WhatsApp group. You can tell now how I felt.

Look at me now, few weeks ago, sent one of the paintings I created in 2023 to Canada and I made my first Million in Naira from one painting. I would have even gotten more money from it but it was consigned with a gallery, so they have their cut too.

I believe bigger things would happen as long as I don’t give up.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

As an Artist or as a creative, getting patronage remains the biggest reward because if not, frustration could reflect in your creativity and that could lead to a creative or an artist giving up on creating. Creating is also expensive.
If a creative doesn’t have money to fund his creativity, how does he create then?

Patronage and getting into shows for exposure is what keeps a creative person going.
Creativity is a calling, if I can not create because I do not have art supplies just because I have not been getting patronage and support, I would feel bad.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/williams_merenini
• Facebook: Williams Merenini