About

DR CLAIRE OGAH

Artist. Storyteller. Academic. Cultural Changemaker.

Portrait of Dr Claire Ogah wearing a sculpted top-knot and coral statement necklace

Dr Claire Ogah

Founder, Creative Director, Overlay Couture

Dr Claire Ogah is a versatile, expressive and unconventional artist who excels in interpreting cultural vibes through her creativity, digital illustrations, wearable art, music, spoken word and storytelling. With a Doctorate in Public Health, specialising in domestic violence against women, and culture.

Claire’s artistic expression tells the story of her existence between two major cultural spaces that have resonated with her. Recognised as an influential force who positively impacts audiences within multicultural spaces, she is passionate about inspiring hope in women as an advocate for women’s rights and an evangelist of anti-food poverty.

Representing her beliefs, insights and experiences as a citizen of the world, her work speaks to the fusion of Black African and European culture and identity. Whether creating an artwork, delivering a keynote, performing spoken word or facilitating a community workshop, she believes creativity has the power to educate, heal and inspire change.

Through every project she remains committed to one purpose: creating art that preserves culture, empowers communities and reminds people that every story matters.

Selected Projects

WORK THAT MOVES BETWEEN GALLERY, STAGE AND COMMUNITY.

a short tour of the archive.

  • 01

    Disrupt the Corruption

    Commissioned by The NewBridge Project. Speaker, panel discussion host, creative workshop facilitator, and exhibition of Tribal Marks, a collection of Euro/Afrocentric wearable art.

  • 02

    Material Histories

    Led and facilitated a textiles workshop at the Great North Museum, commissioned by Newcastle University and UKRI Arts and Humanities Research Council, using objects from the Shefton Collection of Greek Art and Archaeology.

  • 03

    Woman! An Exploration of Women in Ancient and Contemporary Culture

    Speaker and exhibitor of framed digital art pieces of West African ancient and modern Igbo women at an event by Teakisi.

  • 04

    Unveiling the Splendor of Sisterhood: More Than Just Selfies

    Guest blog post for TribeTesi, on the sisterhood and representation of women.

  • 05

    Marginalization: The Paradox of Inclusive Invisibility

    Speaker and lecture at Northumbria University, exploring inclusion, visibility and belonging.

Suggested Topics

CONVERSATIONS CLAIRE OPENS.

Signature talks and themes, drawn from her practice and research. Not limited to these.

  • Disrupt the Corruption
  • Art is Female
  • There’s Hope in Art
  • Inclusive Invisibility
  • Women are not Figurines
  • Where Art and Identity Converge