Daily Inspiration: Meet Chancellor Ahaghotu

Today we’d like to introduce you to Chancellor Ahaghotu.

Hi Chancellor, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’m a Nigerian artist, and for most of my life I struggled to define myself. I always had a strong artistic drive, but growing up, I was consistently pushed toward science. That disconnect (knowing who I was internally while being directed elsewhere) eventually led me into a period of depression. Art was never something I chose casually; it was something I carried quietly until I could no longer ignore it.
In 2022, as I entered young adulthood, I moved to the United States to fully pursue my artistic path. I was admitted to the Savannah College of Art and Design in Atlanta, and that experience has been deeply transformative. SCAD gave me the structure, language, and confidence to take my practice seriously and to see my work within a larger contemporary context.
One of the defining moments of my journey was breaking the Guinness World Record for the longest painting marathon. I painted continuously for 100 hours. It was physically and mentally demanding, but it also felt symbolic; like a reclaiming of time, discipline, and belief in myself. That experience reinforced my understanding of art as endurance, commitment, and presence.
More recently, my work has evolved into a niche that combines painting with functional mechanics. I incorporate gravity-powered clock systems directly into my paintings, creating works that don’t just represent time but actively measure it. These pieces exist at the intersection of fine art and engineering, allowing time itself to become an active component of the work rather than a passive theme.
At this point in my journey, my practice is about reconciliation; between where I come from and where I’m going, between structure and intuition, and between time as something that once constrained me and time as something I now shape through my work

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
There have been challenging moments along the way, moments that forced me to confront doubt, exhaustion, and uncertainty. But each struggle added a layer to my practice and my perspective. I no longer see difficulty as a setback; I see it as material, something that informs the work, gives it weight, and makes the journey meaningful.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I merge functional, gravity-powered mechanical timepieces with figurative painting. My works are built, not just painted, using wood, antique components, and found materials. Each piece functions as both an artwork and a working object, where time is physically present rather than implied.

By incorporating real mechanical systems, I allow gravity and duration to become active collaborators in the work. The materials I use (often aged, worn, or historically charged) carry their own memory, adding another layer of meaning to the figures and narratives I paint. In that way, the work exists at the intersection of image, object, and time.

What matters most to you? Why?
God matters most to me in life. I believe my journey has been spiritual just like it’s been physical. And I know God leads me every step of the way.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://artsbychace.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/artsbychance
• Twitter: https://x.com/artsbychance
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@artsbychance?si=7YLSJJUgwiqPM1xY
• Other: https://tiktok.com/@artsbychance