Joy Onyejiako

Joy holds an MA in antiques with distinction from the University of Central Lancashire and a BA(Hons) in graphic design/photography from Camberwell College of Arts. Her studies focused on the development of practical art practice, which enhanced critical methods of analytical object interrogation. 

Joy's career in the museum and gallery sector has included collections and exhibitions management, archival research, curatorial assistance, and public sector widening participation to promote access to local museum archives for ethnically diverse communities. Joy previously worked at the Brunei Gallery, SOAS (2005-2020), now called the SOAS Gallery, assisting with the organisation of contemporary and historical exhibitions. She is currently working as an Art researcher at Ben Uri Research Unit. (BURU). 

Her PhD thesis aims to introduce an interdisciplinary analysis of the West African 'Luso' ivory carvings in her field of study, including an evaluation of Tudor Elizabethan ornamentation from an African perspective. Historically, art historians have utilised anthropological research and ethnographic classification to frame Western views of West African ivories, emphasising European commissions and Portuguese influences over West African carvers. Her thesis adopts a multifaceted approach, integrating an Africa-centred historiography while sharing academic space with Eurocentric historical viewpoints.  

In 2025, Joy acted as a chair in the 'Art, Displacement, and the Making of Modern London' conference, guiding the discussion on Diasporic Negotiations and Cross-Cultural Solidarities with a panel of industry experts. Topics covered: Black British identities in national archives, curation, global activism, photographic politics and museum interpretation. Ben Uri Museum and Gallery (2025). She presented a well-received paper titled 'Challenging the Narrative' at the Association for Art History (AAH) Annual Conference programme 'Rethinking British Art Through Immigration, Exile, and Diaspora', held at the University of York (2025). 

She hosted as moderator on 'ArtoP: The Visual Articulations of Politics in Nigeria' webinar with keynote academics, introducing and supporting the smooth running of the online event, organised by the Brunei Gallery, SOAS (2022). Joy, in collaboration with fellow SOAS PhD Art History cohorts, as a team, was awarded the Social Action Fund by the British Council, 'Art History for All. She, along with her cohorts, delivered interactive art history workshops for refugee students. Joy's workshop took place in the Africa Galleries, Sainsbury's Wing, at the British Museum, ending with a tour and student dialogue and analysis of the Karun Collection in the Brunei Gallery, SOAS. (2021) She was awarded the Seedcorn Fund, a Research Training and Development Grant for Doctoral Researchers from Racialised Communities. (2021). 

The Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art kindly supports Joy Onyejiako's PhD research. 

• West African 'Luso' Ivory Carvings
• West African Ornamentation and English Decorative Art
• The Royal African Presence in Tudor Elizabethan England
• Decolonisation of West African Collections and Nomenclature

Ben Uri Research Unit Artist Profile