Osvaldo Ferreira

Born in Angola, Osavaldo Ferreria is a visual artist, whose works deal with the questions of the cultural identity of his indigenous society. He was awarded ENSA Art 2020, a remarkable prize for painting in the region of Angola. His works have been presented by the gallery This is not a White Cube, among other reputed ones. Fetching fame internationally, his works are collected in the United States, United Kingdom, Portugal, Italy, Israel, Romania and Spain. 

Ferreria’s paintings depict the cultural nuances of Angola drawing inspiration from everyday occurrences. African textile traditions and their vibrant colours influenced his visual language. The intermingling of patterns, colours and figures gives birth to a lively visual rhythm in his paintings. Primarily, the dramatisation of human figures submerged in the maximalist background is the main identity of his artworks. They narrate concerns, joy, tension, happiness and dismay, among other emotive aspects through diverse gestures. At the same time, they are prominently highlighted through the expressive faces rendered collectively.

In contemporary times, the depiction of African culture comes as a tool for him to speak of the colonial past and bring forth the social problems of African people and heritage. Making an attempt to create resistance toward the colonial outlook, Ferreira tries to focus on the persisting sense of appropriation that has gripped the nation. His works develop a cogent language in redeveloping a new image of the present through the context of the past.