Kemi Onabule, Motherland, 2019 (framed)
Coloured pencil on paper, 29.5 x 21cm
Kemi Onabule’s artistic practice – in her words – ‘aims to send the viewer to a time where we, as humans, are close to nature and engaged in a deeper understanding of our purpose as guardians of the world we live in.’ Her vibrant imagery is characterised by lush foliage which is often inhabited by figures inspired by Ancient Greek and Minoan sculpture. These figures are intentionally devoid of any signifiers of cultural identity; rather, they represent an exploration of wider ideas around identity and belonging.
Kemi’s vibrant coloured pencil drawings exist as a strong independent body of work within her artistic practice. They are often created using a heightened, luminous palette as seen in this study on paper, and have a sense of the surreal. In the artist’s words; ‘my work on paper can be a more intimate and tactile way of engaging with my subject matter.’ This work has been framed in maple by Hawkins framing in London.
Kemi studied painting at Wimbledon College of Art receiving her BA in 2016. Since then, she has exhibited her work widely in London and internationally including a solo exhibition at Guts Gallery in 2020. She was shortlisted for the Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year Award in 2013, the Ingram Young Artist Prize in 2017 and the Hix Award in 2017. Oliver Projects has exhibited her works on paper in two group exhibitions and also at the Woolwich Contemporary Print Fair in 2021. Kemi’s work was exhibited by Night Gallery, Los Angeles, Beers Gallery, London and Delphian Gallery, London, all in early 2022. A solo exhibition, ‘Arcadia’, is presented by Sim Smith Gallery in London until 1st October 2022. She has recently re-located from south east London to Bedford.
Coloured pencil on paper, 29.5 x 21cm
Kemi Onabule’s artistic practice – in her words – ‘aims to send the viewer to a time where we, as humans, are close to nature and engaged in a deeper understanding of our purpose as guardians of the world we live in.’ Her vibrant imagery is characterised by lush foliage which is often inhabited by figures inspired by Ancient Greek and Minoan sculpture. These figures are intentionally devoid of any signifiers of cultural identity; rather, they represent an exploration of wider ideas around identity and belonging.
Kemi’s vibrant coloured pencil drawings exist as a strong independent body of work within her artistic practice. They are often created using a heightened, luminous palette as seen in this study on paper, and have a sense of the surreal. In the artist’s words; ‘my work on paper can be a more intimate and tactile way of engaging with my subject matter.’ This work has been framed in maple by Hawkins framing in London.
Kemi studied painting at Wimbledon College of Art receiving her BA in 2016. Since then, she has exhibited her work widely in London and internationally including a solo exhibition at Guts Gallery in 2020. She was shortlisted for the Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year Award in 2013, the Ingram Young Artist Prize in 2017 and the Hix Award in 2017. Oliver Projects has exhibited her works on paper in two group exhibitions and also at the Woolwich Contemporary Print Fair in 2021. Kemi’s work was exhibited by Night Gallery, Los Angeles, Beers Gallery, London and Delphian Gallery, London, all in early 2022. A solo exhibition, ‘Arcadia’, is presented by Sim Smith Gallery in London until 1st October 2022. She has recently re-located from south east London to Bedford.
Coloured pencil on paper, 29.5 x 21cm
Kemi Onabule’s artistic practice – in her words – ‘aims to send the viewer to a time where we, as humans, are close to nature and engaged in a deeper understanding of our purpose as guardians of the world we live in.’ Her vibrant imagery is characterised by lush foliage which is often inhabited by figures inspired by Ancient Greek and Minoan sculpture. These figures are intentionally devoid of any signifiers of cultural identity; rather, they represent an exploration of wider ideas around identity and belonging.
Kemi’s vibrant coloured pencil drawings exist as a strong independent body of work within her artistic practice. They are often created using a heightened, luminous palette as seen in this study on paper, and have a sense of the surreal. In the artist’s words; ‘my work on paper can be a more intimate and tactile way of engaging with my subject matter.’ This work has been framed in maple by Hawkins framing in London.
Kemi studied painting at Wimbledon College of Art receiving her BA in 2016. Since then, she has exhibited her work widely in London and internationally including a solo exhibition at Guts Gallery in 2020. She was shortlisted for the Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year Award in 2013, the Ingram Young Artist Prize in 2017 and the Hix Award in 2017. Oliver Projects has exhibited her works on paper in two group exhibitions and also at the Woolwich Contemporary Print Fair in 2021. Kemi’s work was exhibited by Night Gallery, Los Angeles, Beers Gallery, London and Delphian Gallery, London, all in early 2022. A solo exhibition, ‘Arcadia’, is presented by Sim Smith Gallery in London until 1st October 2022. She has recently re-located from south east London to Bedford.
