The Art of Okolo Oliver
Artist statement
In every figure art there is a story behind it. The forms, values, structures, composition, facial features
all come together to convey my message to the world. As an artist, there is a very deep intimacy
between me and my work. Through combination of lines with different materials like charcoal, acrylic,
gesso I create my works which give a feel of both classical and contemporary perception. I have a great
respect for the texture of my paper or canvas, so with unblended strokes I create striking realistic
figurative works.
I am fascinated by nature and humanity, which is the reason why I explore the possibilities in creating
with the human figure. I consider my works to be classical- contemporealism, a term I coined up to
better express my love for classical (renaissance) and contemporary art. Working with charcoal give me
the closure I always seek with my ancestors as charcoal is considered the oldest medium which can be
tied to the early cave men of Africa. Also adding acrylic or gesso to my work gives me a more
contemporary feel.
As an artist I feel art is a way to bring humanity together. I try to use my work to express my ideas and
speak to the people of my community and also raise self-awareness within the minds of my audience. I
draw inspiration from the people I see every day, as I paint them I connect to them and I am able to help
tell my story to the world
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/okolo_oliver/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/OliverOkolo?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
Curator Madeline Walsh