Nelson Okoh

“I am inspired by everything around me, nature in general. Sometimes it could be due to the sea wave, water ripples, sky colours or body language. I believe the world is filled with people if we decide to open our eyes to see beyond what is visible to the average person.”

Born in 1974, Nelson Okoh is a visual artist from Nigeria. Nelson has become an eminent and celebrated artist recently, fetching acclaim for his national and international artworks. He is a self-taught artist and defines his practice as impressionism. Developing his stylization using a palette knife, he creates a distinctive texture that charms his representations. His female portraits are glamorous, realistic, and full of expressive gestures. Black women are protagonists in his quasi-abstract works. The figuration under the guise of strengthened and brightened colour makes the contour of the female oblivious.

Having earned fame through one of his paintings, Yellow Earrings, done in 2012, his works retain the conceptual realms over time. He often leverages the material to obtain a suitable texture in his art-making process. In the female portraiture, he establishes peacefulness through a balanced and composed stature. In his paintings, female figures are hardly devoid of ornaments, which embark on his journey of identity, spirituality, and memory. Nelson's portraits recall his traditional and native connection. However, remarkably, the attire of men and women draws a western inspiration as if they are trying to create their mark in society.