About Us
The Urevbu Foundation was born from the desire of artist, Ephraim Urevbu, to use art to heal fractured communities. Urevbu believes that art has ability to effect global change by inspiring people to examine their core beliefs and engage in dialogue about shared human experiences.
In 2021, the Urebvu Foundation began its journey to create an art incubator where artists from around the world will come to Memphis for three-month residencies where they will immerse themselves in a community of artists under a single roof, all of whom are seeking a space for collaboration around the issues that matter to them.
Artist will live together at the incubator, located at 831 Jackson Avenue in Memphis, Tennessee . During their residency, artists will have the opportunity to focus full-time on their art, developing not only their techniques but their message for global change. Artists also will engage in dialogue with each other and with the greater Memphis community about the issues that motivate their art. The incubator space will provide residences and art studios for the artists, as well as gallery space and common areas where the artist and the community can come together to explore the issues that are at the core of the artists’ work.
Mission Statement
The Urevbu Foundation creates the potential for global change and healing through the arts by catalyzing artists to harness their creative gifts and talents to tackle issues they are passionate about. By nurturing ideas that translate the artist’s core beliefs into impactful art, we foster collaboration and mutual understanding among artists and their communities, thereby releasing the inherent power of art to transcend political divides and effect meaningful change.
Vision Statement
The work of the Urebvu Foundation will help to create a more hopeful and connected world bound together by inspiring stories that remind us of our common humanity.
The present moment.
The Urebvu Foundation is a fledgling non-profit. Having raised sufficient funds to purchase and renovate the incubator space, the Foundation is now engaged in fundraising to build the various programs that will support the incubator’s work and sustain it for the future.
The foundation’s primary assets are the incubator property itself, as well as a substantial collection of Urebvu’s art. The goal of the foundation is to raise $500,000 by December 31, 2025 to support the ongoing operation of the incubator and other foundation programs. This will allow the foundation to hire key staff to operate the incubator and pay the expenses associated with the creation and operation of the incubator and associated programs. The plan to raise these funds includes grants, corporate donations and sponsorships, fundraising events, space rental income, and potentially the sale of art.
Once the foundation achieves its cash on hand goal, it will begin fundraising efforts to support the long-term growth and sustainability of the foundation primarily through corporate and private donations.
Our future in progress.
In the next twelve months, the Urevbu Foundation plans to accomplish the following:
Recruit and activate an operational Board of Directors
Hire an Executive Director and Support Staff
Complete construction of the Incubator and associated spaces
Recruit and begin work with first class Artists-in-Residence
Launch Dinner and Dialogue Programs and Story Nights with the Artists-in-Residence
Raise $500,000 and fund the ongoing programs of the Foundation
Create and deploy marketing and public relations plan for the Foundation
Become a Catalyst
Global change begins with you. Set our mission and vision in motion by giving today.
About Ephraim Urevbu
Ephraim Urevbu was raised in Nigeria by a single mom in a family of eight. He dedicated himself, early on, to education as the key to success. He attended one of only three elite high schools in his hometown Warri, and Africa's oldest art college, in Lagos, Nigeria. Refusing the proscribed expectation of an acceptable professional pathway, he put an ocean between himself and his family to follow his truth - a passion for art in America and the city of Memphis.
Urevbu received a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Memphis. In 1994, Urevbu purchased a space to create a 60'x18' commissioned artwork, the largest work he had ever made, which led to his ownership of a building on South Main Street in downtown Memphis. Urevbu bought and refurbished the building and founded Urevbu Contemporary (formerly Art Village Gallery) and a restaurant called Zanzibar. Years later, working with the city of Memphis, he established a vibrant arts district for the Bluff City in the shadow of the National Civil Rights Museum.
Ephraim Urevbu is a talented and accomplished artist known for his unique and captivating artwork.
Urevbu's artwork is characterized by his bold use of colors, intricate details, and thought-provoking themes. He draws inspiration from his African heritage, incorporating elements of traditional African art and culture into his work. His artwork has been displayed in prestigious galleries and museums, earning him recognition and acclaim from art enthusiasts and collectors.
Urevbu's artwork not only showcases his exceptional talent but also serves as a platform for social commentary. He addresses important issues such as identity, inequality, and the human experience through his art, sparking conversations and provoking thought among viewers.
Art has served as a bridge from the past to the present for Urevbu. His life experiences of poverty and seemingly impossible cultural and familial barriers within the art career, the hardened realities of black life in America, the challenges of racism, and the private battle against cancer – gifted him with a unique and compassionate voice, as displayed by his newest collection of works: "The Naked Truth."
Ephraim Urevbu is a highly skilled and influential artist who continues to make a significant impact in the art world. His unique style, powerful storytelling, and dedication to his craft have solidified his place as a prominent figure in contemporary art.
Learn more about Urevbu Contemporary and The Naked Truth Art Project.