![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JICHPT5MSNBONMCNZBNKJ4HUV4.jpg?smart=true&auth=c516fb27b46db7930f479db0ac45ea70c61ba903444b41a0ca4fe5c911d2c62d&width=400&height=225)
Never There by Kanye
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/U3OISEKGPBCAFKHI3BB5E4IYAM.jpg?smart=true&auth=376d862c33229bd3b3f7e2505c7dc0d60ad25d558e4ace8f3b56c20fff29cbb0&width=400&height=225)
Kanyeyachukwu Tagbo-Okeke, who has non-verbal autism, began showing a natural inclination towards painting when he was two. All Photos: Antonie Robertson / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PHJN2S3V55EF3IBFL6WIHTTMGM.jpg?smart=true&auth=5ccdea6366cd82c389390655553488f202d139998e0fff23e3e8112bf8468120&width=400&height=225)
Known as Kanye, his paintings have been displayed across galleries and museums in Europe, the US, Nigeria and other parts of Africa
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JSK2NIO4C5BELAXKLL3WSIBMDU.jpg?smart=true&auth=7ac10f77b6125e61ba915b0b19bee59bf95aabcee08bc9502b63e353d82d8551&width=400&height=225)
Besides his artistic output, Kanye is also renowned for his advocacy work as the face of the Kanye Autism Foundation
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JBDP44D22VHWPBV632OZW4Q6DA.jpg?smart=true&auth=974b31c54b56116560cc191eb3991dc251e2cebdadae421f13b38b8358264f7b&width=400&height=225)
Kanye's solo exhibition, Spectrum Splendor: A Young Artist's Journey, opened at The H Dubai on Tuesday to mark World Autism Awareness Day
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DUZUEYEZ3BEVFGLUPXZI3QTGNM.jpg?smart=true&auth=da99fdf2c7851945b14b4b01bdb7bad86b26bd65c5c79c97841b72f17e1384d2&width=400&height=225)
For Kanye, painting is the primary means by which he communicates
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/U45OBFY3GFC3HHMBDMFX7KKUOA.jpg?smart=true&auth=35eb70524dae035766e6c14ef3ca22058c8bed9af594485ff3dafec9eb6acafe&width=400&height=225)
Ijele (African Folk Tales) by Kanye
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Kanye even has a gallery in Abuja now, where regular art therapy workshops are conducted
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BMY3F3M2UNGPFBG2SRUO2U6GBU.jpg?smart=true&auth=69ad18603f5602037d6794c63d0592b75465af1a9e65bcee9b71221710341f1f&width=400&height=225)
From left, Twilight (Going to Sleep) and The Joker
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Never There by Kanye
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/U3OISEKGPBCAFKHI3BB5E4IYAM.jpg?smart=true&auth=376d862c33229bd3b3f7e2505c7dc0d60ad25d558e4ace8f3b56c20fff29cbb0&width=400&height=225)
Kanyeyachukwu Tagbo-Okeke, who has non-verbal autism, began showing a natural inclination towards painting when he was two. All Photos: Antonie Robertson / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PHJN2S3V55EF3IBFL6WIHTTMGM.jpg?smart=true&auth=5ccdea6366cd82c389390655553488f202d139998e0fff23e3e8112bf8468120&width=400&height=225)
Known as Kanye, his paintings have been displayed across galleries and museums in Europe, the US, Nigeria and other parts of Africa
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JSK2NIO4C5BELAXKLL3WSIBMDU.jpg?smart=true&auth=7ac10f77b6125e61ba915b0b19bee59bf95aabcee08bc9502b63e353d82d8551&width=400&height=225)
Besides his artistic output, Kanye is also renowned for his advocacy work as the face of the Kanye Autism Foundation
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JBDP44D22VHWPBV632OZW4Q6DA.jpg?smart=true&auth=974b31c54b56116560cc191eb3991dc251e2cebdadae421f13b38b8358264f7b&width=400&height=225)
Kanye's solo exhibition, Spectrum Splendor: A Young Artist's Journey, opened at The H Dubai on Tuesday to mark World Autism Awareness Day
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DUZUEYEZ3BEVFGLUPXZI3QTGNM.jpg?smart=true&auth=da99fdf2c7851945b14b4b01bdb7bad86b26bd65c5c79c97841b72f17e1384d2&width=400&height=225)
For Kanye, painting is the primary means by which he communicates
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/U45OBFY3GFC3HHMBDMFX7KKUOA.jpg?smart=true&auth=35eb70524dae035766e6c14ef3ca22058c8bed9af594485ff3dafec9eb6acafe&width=400&height=225)
Ijele (African Folk Tales) by Kanye
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UXFWCGOHFRGMVN7MPRXYPTMVXY.jpg?smart=true&auth=d4aa59bbe2caf91595397987a3e31d035b2d982c75ea7bba76ee5aae72f73eb6&width=400&height=225)
Kanye even has a gallery in Abuja now, where regular art therapy workshops are conducted
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BMY3F3M2UNGPFBG2SRUO2U6GBU.jpg?smart=true&auth=69ad18603f5602037d6794c63d0592b75465af1a9e65bcee9b71221710341f1f&width=400&height=225)
From left, Twilight (Going to Sleep) and The Joker
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JICHPT5MSNBONMCNZBNKJ4HUV4.jpg?smart=true&auth=c516fb27b46db7930f479db0ac45ea70c61ba903444b41a0ca4fe5c911d2c62d&width=400&height=225)
Never There by Kanye
Meet Kanye, 14, a 'genius' Nigerian painter with non-verbal autism
Kanyeyachukwu Tagbo-Okeke is exhibiting his paintings at the lobby of The H Dubai
![Razmig Bedirian](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F275b4b76-cb6d-410e-a5df-c23d65484c26.png?smart=true&auth=fc94b07464368c9c664f3bd102f95ffe4c76b1b38fe7d6fee2362e26add51d0e&width=70&height=70)
Razmig Bedirian
04 April, 2024
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