Oluwole Omofemi

OLUWOLE OMOFEMI: NIGERIAN PORTRAITURE AND THE POWER OF PRESENCE

Oluwole Omofemi is a Nigerian contemporary artist born in 1988 in Ibadan, Nigeria. Working primarily in oil and acrylic on canvas, he is known for powerful figurative portraits that explore Black identity, dignity, cultural memory, and the emotional presence of the sitter.

Omofemi’s paintings occupy a distinctive position within contemporary African art, where portraiture becomes a space for visibility, self-possession, and remembrance. His figures often appear frontal, still, and composed, yet their presence carries a quiet psychological intensity. Through carefully staged poses, bold colour fields, and refined attention to facial expression, he creates images that feel both intimate and iconic.

View available works by Oluwole Omofemi ›

PORTRAITURE, IDENTITY AND CULTURAL MEMORY

Born and raised in Ibadan, Omofemi developed an early interest in drawing and portraiture. His work is deeply connected to questions of heritage, self-worth, and cultural continuity. The influence of his family background, and particularly the value placed on tradition and self-respect, remains central to his artistic language.

His portraits frequently elevate sitters who are friends, relatives, or people encountered in everyday life. Rather than presenting them as anonymous subjects, Omofemi gives each figure a commanding sense of individuality. Pride, self-esteem, authenticity, and memory recur throughout his practice, often expressed through hairstyle, clothing, gaze, and posture.

BLACK WOMEN’S PRESENCE

A significant part of Omofemi’s practice has focused on the representation of Black women. His portraits often present women with halo-like afros, cornrow braids, or sakora hairstyles, forms that connect beauty, identity, and cultural memory. These works do not simply depict appearance; they affirm presence, dignity, and self-possession.

This concern was central to A Woman’s Worth, his 2022 solo exhibition at OOA Gallery. The exhibition reflected on womanhood, respect, strength, and integrity, proposing portraiture as a way to honour the inner life and symbolic power of each sitter. Through this body of work, Omofemi explored the emotional and cultural meaning of Black women’s presence within contemporary society.

View the exhibition A Woman’s Worth ›

INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION

Omofemi has gained international attention through exhibitions, art fairs, and significant commissions. In 2022, he was commissioned by Tatler to create a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II for the magazine’s Platinum Jubilee issue. The work was also connected to Sotheby’s Jubilee Arts Festival in London, where Omofemi participated in a public conversation around the portrait and its symbolic relationship to the Commonwealth.

In 2026, Omofemi returned to royal portraiture with a portrait of Prince William for Tatler, further confirming his growing visibility beyond the contemporary African art field. These projects reflect the increasing international recognition of his practice and the broader relevance of his approach to portraiture.

AVAILABLE WORKS

Explore a selection of available works by Oluwole Omofemi at OOA Gallery, including oil and acrylic paintings that examine portraiture, Black identity, dignity, memory, and the power of human presence.