Boyega Babalola

I’m a visual artist working in modern and contemporary colour-field abstraction, primarily through oil painting. I began painting in 2016 alongside my enrolment in psychoanalytic psychotherapy training. This period opened a space for self-exploration and reflection, which continues to shape my practice.

My work developed in parallel with this internal process. I attended short courses at The Art Academy, where I built foundational skills in oil painting and materials. During this time, I became deeply drawn to the work of Mark Rothko, particularly his use of colour to evoke an overwhelming experience. This led me to explore layering techniques and the subtle relationships between pigments.

I paint colourfields that focus on calm, containment, and emotional balance. Through the gradual building of layers and the use of large colour blocks, I aim to create spaces that invite stillness and reflection.

Looking back, these two experiences, psychotherapy training and painting, feel closely linked. What may have once felt difficult to understand now feels more integrated, particularly as I have come to recognise and accept my neurodivergent traits.

The Art Acadmy London
Self thought