Solomon Irein Wangboje, part of the foundational generation from Zaria’s Art Department, was instrumental in shaping the country’s visual arts identity.

He pioneered modern Nigerian printmaking, mastering woodcut and linocut techniques to portray scenes from everyday life and local folklore. Works like The Music Maker (1965), Mother and Child (1962), and Desert Journey (1964) reflect his distinctive approach to visual storytelling.

Wangboje was also a committed advocate for art education, writing influential texts and launching the TV Model Club programme on NTA Benin in the 1980s to encourage young artists.