Oil on Canvas

My work centers around figurative and still life paintings that explore themes of cultural heritage and the human spirit. Taking inspiration from African artists such as Chief Nike Davies-Okundaye and Seydo Keïta, I frequently weave in wax print textiles such as ankara and àdìrẹ into imagery, not only to represent the vibrancy of African culture but also to reclaim their role in storytelling and in connecting people with African history. This particular painting is centered around 'Lila', representing her as a black crown crane, the national bird of Nigeria, which is also considered to be a symbol/ messenger of peace.