Iké Udé positions his work at the intersection of art,
fashion, and popular culture. In 2014 Udé began an ambitious portrait project,
capturing 64 of the rising stars of Nollywood, the Nigerian film industry.
Nollywood has become the second most prolific film industry—ahead of Hollywood
and behind Bollywood—with nearly 2,500 titles released annually. Udé
photographed these celebrities in a classic style, with fashionable clothing
and in poses that recall Renaissance paintings. His back- grounds, however,
move these photos into the present day. The bold colors and carefully chosen
objects were designed, combined, and crafted through hours of computer
postproduction.