Okuvoola Ekintu Mundaga Yaakyo (OEMY)

This 5-part series entitled Okuvoola Ekintu Mundaga Yaakyo (Presenting something in a way that undermines it) attempts to reconcile the misrepresentation, or lack of representation, of Black identity in the past and present. In conjunction with referencing time periods and historical figures, I attempt to paint myself as an equally viable option for a beautiful portrait. My work, through juxtaposition, strives to describe the ways that black people have been portrayed in historical European paintings and how they can be painted contemporarily. While realistic and informed by the history of painting, my paintings also present different narratives by telling the stories of different places, women, and facial expressions. Each of the glances is deliberately chosen in hopes of creating intimate moments with each of these women.