The Hopeful Print

I was born in Edo State, Nigeria, into a family of 6. My family supported my passion for art and encouraged my formal studies from the age of 9. The death of my father during a terrorist attack was pivotal in my art, leaving me vulnerable and filling me with determination to succeed. I felt as though I had lost control; losing my youth to the responsibilities I felt the death of my dad had burdened me with, caring for my mom and younger siblings, which along with my grief influenced and transformed my art. My art allowed me to process some of my internalized feelings, and to express my solidarity with my countrymen, while documenting what I see and feel of the world at large. My art is greatly influenced by the powerful works of Basquiat and the rawness in his expression, and the playful but expressive works of Keith Haring. The tattooed faces of my characters are the narrative of my thoughts and feelings, which I find difficult to verbalize. I have over 6 years of experience sketching designs, visualizing, documenting memories and telling stories through stick figure illustration and African symbolism. I am exploring the relationship between thoughts and expression by contrasting landscape, the heavens, symbolism and form.