Stillness in Transit: A solo exhibition by Alex Peter Idoko

Mitochondria gallery is honored to present “Stillness in Transit,” the debut solo exhibition by Alex Peter Idoko. “Stillness in Transit” is an examination of the interaction between introspection and movement as integral influences in the realization of identity.

In this exhibition Idoko explores how conditions of tranquility and internal reflection coexist with the continuous transitions of life. Instead of conceiving stillness as inactivity and transit as movement, this body of work situates both as intertwined conditions that define human resilience and cultural continuity.

Pyrography is at the material core of this work. The practice of image making through pyrography involves carving surfaces through controlled burning. In “Stillness in Transit,” Idoko recontextualized pyrography through a contemporary method he terms “Pyro-Fusion,” a blend of pyrography, acrylic painting, charcoal, razor blade, and collage. Here, fire operates as an agent of revelation and transformation. Idoko is formulating both vulnerability and permanence embedded in the human condition.

This exhibition ultimately postulates that stillness and movement are not opposed, but mutually propagative, and that our cultural and personal roots, far from anchoring us in the past, provide the necessary grounding from which we navigate the ongoing journey of becoming.

Opening Reception: November 1, 2025. 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Public Viewing: November 1st - November 29th, 2025

Mitochondria Gallery2220 Commerce Street #D,Houston,TX 77002

[email protected]@mitochodriagallery.com

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A chorus of Selves. Fire, paper, charcoal, acrylic, collage on canvas. 48 x 39 inches. 2025

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Alex Peter Idoko. One name. Fire, paper, and acrylic on canvas. 60 x 48 in. 2025

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Alex Peter Idoko (b. 1992) is a Nigerian pyrography artist known for his pioneering technique, Pyro-fusionism. Though holding a degree in Accounting, His artistic journey began at a young age in Lagos, where he first discovered his gift by drawing on the ground before progressing to pencil and pastel. The embers of a deeper calling led the self-taught artist to embrace fire as his primary tool of creation.

Initially working on wood, Idoko developed a unique style using Fire, razorblades, and sandpaper to sculpt hyperrealistic and surreal figures. His practice evolved as he transitioned to canvas, innovating a method that fuses the raw heat of pyrography with the hues of acrylic paint. His signature style is defined by a striking contrast: the detailed realism of his subjects’ skin against ephemeral, sketch-like forms, exploring the dialogue between permanence and fragility.

Idoko’s work is a profound meditation on identity, cultural heritage, and resilience, drawn from the quiet, internal worlds and unspoken emotions of his subjects. His figures serve as mirrors, reflecting both their own stories and the artist’s personal journey.

His work has been exhibited internationally in galleries and art fairs across Nigeria, Europe, and the United States, including shows in London, Texas, Miami, and New York. He is the recipient of several accolades, including the 2022 Artnation People’s Choice Award and recognition from the Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize. Alex Peter Idoko lives and works in Abuja, Nigeria.

Artist Statement

My work is a celebration of quiet strength, identity, and cultural heritage, capturing the complex emotions born from the human experience within my socio-cultural landscape. Through my art, I explore the depth of introspection—the still moments where resilience is nurtured, memories and history converge to shape identity, and heritage becomes a source of strength.

My primary language is fire. Wielding flames and razorblades as my tools of revelation, I developed a technique I call Pyro-Fusion. Through it, I bring together the raw heat of pyrography with the coolness of acrylics. But this fusion extends beyond materials; it is a conceptual contrast at the heart of my work—the dialogue between hyperrealistic, deeply rendered skin and ephemeral, sketch-like elements. This tension between the permanent and the fleeting allows me to sculpt not just figures, but the very essence of their stories onto the canvas.

I am drawn to the intimate, often unseen moments that define our lives. The subjects I render become mirrors, reflecting not only their own narratives but also my own journey—our shared strengths, vulnerabilities, and the silent emotions that underpin our existence.

Ultimately, my art is a vehicle for storytelling. It invites the viewer to pause and reflect on the quiet moments that define us, to find strength in the intricate layers of identity, and to celebrate the extraordinary beauty nestled within our shared human experience. It is my hope to create work that bridges heritage with modernity, honoring the resilience of the past while contributing to the narratives we are still creating.

MUSEUM EXHIBITIONS
Shared Vision: Portraits from the CCH Pounder Cone collection. The African American Museum (AAMP), Philadelphia, USA.

ART FAIR
2025. Atlanta Art Fair, Mitochondria Gallery.
2021. Context art Miami fair, Florida, USA.

SELECT EXHIBITIONS
2025. Tracing the River Back, Mitochondria Gallery.
2025. Never Grow Up, Group Exhibition, Mazel Galerie, Brussels, Belgium.
2024. Place of Repose II, Mitochondria Gallery.
2024. Gathering at Dawn, Mitochondria Gallery.
2024. Persons and identities, group exhibition, Alexis galleries, VI, Lagos, Nigeria.
2023. The Natural, FIN oil and gas conference and Exhibition, Hilton Waldorf.
2023. Memesis group exhibition, Black Liquid ART, Viterbo, Italy.
2022. Shared memories exhibition, NK art space., Lagos, Nigeria
2021. Context art Miami fair, Florida, USA.
2021. Tenacity, a Nigerian contemporary group exhibition, Lagos, Nigeria.
2018. MONIKER ART FAIR NYC, Greenpoint terminal, Brooklyn.
2018. COMMON THREAD exhibition, the black and white building, Shoreditch. art prize.

SELECT PRESS
BBC News, ARTNET, DAZED, Beautiful Bizzare art prize.

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