Umeh Bede Ifeanyichukwu was born on the 12th of February 1965 in Jos Plateau State, Nigeria. Umeh enrolled into the famous Yaba College of Technology Lagos where he graduated with a Higher National Diploma (HND) in painting. He worked briefly as an illustrator with Arbil, an advertising agency in Bodija Ibadan before retiring into full-time studio practice.
Umeh is an active member of the Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA) Lagos branch and the Visual Art Society of Nigeria (VASON). He has shown his paintings in numerous exhibitions in Nigeria. The most notable ones are; ADSA Exhibition Yaba College of Technology (1989-1990), NYSC Presidential Award Week at Sheraton Hotels and Towers, Abuja (1991), Mydrim Gallery (1994), Children Support League National Theatre (1994), Yaba of Technology Family Ties National Museum (1996), “Images of Our World” Didi Museum (1995), “From the Cradle” Goethe Institute (1998), “Our Cultural Values” National Museum (1999), “Dream” Didi Museum (2001), Iponri Studios Exhibition at National Museum Onikan Lagos (2008), Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA) Lagos October Rain (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011), ISOKAN by Iponri Studios at Terra Kulture Victoria Island Lagos (2009), Miniature Exhibition Terra Kulture (2009), “Ties” Thought Pyramids Art Gallery Abuja (2010), “Express It” Omenka Art Gallery Ikoyi (2011), “Pastel Exhibition” Mydrim Gallery Ikoyi (2011), “Nothing But The Truth” Mydrim Gallery (2012), “Beyond Boundary” Nubuke Gallery Accra Ghana (2013) Group Exhibition Terra Kulture (2014).
Umeh is a full time studio artist. His works are in major private and public collections in Nigeria and abroad. He lives and works in Lagos.