James Mishio James Mishio, is a Ghanaian mixed-media artist based in Accra whose work is driven by his exploration of humanity through experimentation with various materials. His use of oil, acrylic, pastel, and fabric on canvas, applied with a palette knife in thick impasto layers, emphasises the richness of African skin and its historical significance. Mishio’s work often incorporates second-hand clothing, symbolising the idea of ‘life after death’ by extending the lifespan of these materials beyond their original function. Through his portraiture and figurative works, Mishio engages with themes of identity, perception, and societal judgement, particularly surrounding men with hairstyles like dreadlocks. Inspired by individuals like Ahmad Cissé, who challenge stereotypes, his Identity series reflects on how society labels individuals based on appearance, aiming to change these narratives. Before We Dissolve, 2023 Confidential, 2022 Acrylic, oil, pastel & fabric on canvas Hybrid Mode II, 2023 Acrylic and oil on canvas Pondering State, 2022 Acrylic, oil and fabric on canvas Back To Back, 2023 Acrylic and oil on canvas Previous Next Connect with the Artist >

Learn more about the contemporary artist Matheus Marques Abu. Matheus Marques Abu Matheus Marques Abu , a self-taught artist from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, explores ancestry, spirituality, and the African diaspora through his evocative paintings. Influenced by the Rio de Janeiro rap scene and his early work in pixo (graffiti), Abu's art reflects on the colonial history and its impact on racialised individuals. During the pandemic, his discovery of Adinkra symbols, brought to Brazil by enslaved people, enriched his work with themes of communication and resistance. Abu's vibrant brushstrokes and intricate symbolism challenge Eurocentric histories, capturing the resilience of the African diaspora and interweaving past and present narratives. Nightfall Miracles, 2024 Acrylic on canvas, 150 x 150 cm Diving After Midnight, 2024 Acrylic on canvas, 150 x 150 cm So Atlantic, 2024 Acrylic on canvas, 130 x 110 cm Memories of a transatlantic flight, 2024 Acrylic on canvas Journey across the sea and space 6 steps below the moon, 2023 Acrylic on canvas, 125 x 160 cm Connect with the Artist

Learn more about the contemporary artist Pauline Marcelle. Pauline Marcelle Pauline Marcelle , is a Dominican-born visual artist who resides and works between Dominica and Vienna, Austria. Her practice spans painting, sculpture, and video, exploring the complexities of human behavior and the influence of social and mental environments. Marcelle’s work focuses on themes of consumption, sustainability, and resilience, often using digital collages transformed into painterly expressions. Rooted in her Caribbean heritage, her vibrant use of color celebrates Black existence and explores human needs and desires. Through her oil paintings, she examines the impact of social and political environments while resonating universally across cultures. Status Quo, 2023 Oil on canvas, 70 x 70 cm Providence, 2023 Mixed media and oil on canvas, 160 x 120 cm Forgotten tomorrows, 2020 Oil on canvas In Search of the Sun, 2023 Oil on canvas, 100 x 100 cm Frame of Mind, 2023 Oil on canvas, 70 x 70 cm Take my picture, 2023 Oil on canvas, 70 x 70 cm When the spirits fell on earth, 2020 Oil on canvas Perspectives, 2023 Oil on canvas, 160 x 120 cm Les Voyageurs, 2023 My Purgatory, 2021 Mixed media/oil on canvas, 200 x 200 cm Connect with the Artist Globe

Learn more about the contemporary artist Cydne Jasmin Coleby. Cydne Jasmin Coleby Cydne Jasmin Coleby , is a Bahamian artist from Nassau, Bahamas. Her work celebrates the captivating complexity of being Caribbean, specifically Bahamian. Influenced by the aesthetics of Junkanoo, she creates vibrant images honoring the resilience of her community. Coleby's art often uses photographic archives and collage techniques, merging familiar paradisiacal visuals with moments of pain and trauma. Using a mix of materials like acrylics, decorative paper, glitter, and sand, Coleby's unique color palettes aim to highlight the duality of paradise and its underlying wounds, exploring and nurturing individual and collective identities. Growing into My Features, 2024 Acrylic, decorative paper, photo collage, sand and glitter on paper, 60 x 45.5 cm Unexpected Friends, 2022 Acrylic, decorative paper, photo collage and glitter on wood on panel, 121.9 x 91.4 cm Communion, 2022 Acrylic, Decorative paper, Photo Collage, and Glitter on canvas, 121.9 x 101.6 cm Witnessing, 2024 Acrylic, Decorative Paper, Photo Collage, Sand, and glitter on wood panel, 60 x 120 cm Something Ovah Here Fa You?, 2022 Acrylic, decorative paper, photo collage, and glitter on wood panel, 121.9 x 91.4 cm Connect with the Artist

Okafor Paschal Kenechukwu Okafor Paschal Kenechukwu is a Nigerian artist whose practice centres on figurative painting and portraiture as a way of exploring identity, emotion, and cultural presence. Trained in Fine and Applied Arts, he began with pencil drawing before developing a strong connection to oil and acrylic on canvas. His portraits focus on human expression, using gesture, gaze, and form to convey inner states and personal narratives. Rooted in cultural appreciation, his work balances sensitivity and clarity, creating images that feel intimate yet open to interpretation. Through an evolving practice, Paschal invites viewers to reflect on shared experience, emotional depth, and the ways identity is shaped through memory and observation. Where the shadow Ends, 2024 Oil On Canvas 44x40 in He Who Knows Too Early, 2026 Oil On Canvas 40x40 in Not all who teach us about love are human, 2024 Oil On Canvas 44x40 in Regent, 2025 Oil On Canvas 31x40 in IMG_0443.jpg Oil On Canvas 40x23 in Previous Next Connect with the Artist >

Learn more about the contemporary artist Alicia-Pearl Cato. Alicia-Pearl Cato Alicia-Pearl Cato , a Zimbabwean-born artist, employs her art to explore and celebrate her identity. She addresses societal issues through textiles, text-based art, and portraiture, proposing controversial statements that spark conversations about race. Her series, 'Childhood•Upbringing•Identity•Belonging,' reflects on personal memories, inviting viewers to ponder the impact of events and the nuances of identity. Alicia-Pearl has also sought to portray her perspective on blackness by celebrating black culture and music. Her focus on black music and musicians, in particular, adds a dynamic layer to her artistic expression. Harare, Zimbabwe II Aunty Lauryn, 2019 Oil painting on panel, 34 x 47cm #MOOD, 2018 Mixed-media painting on Panel, 39 x 46 cm Noname, 2019 Oil painting on Panel, 35 x 47cm Harare, Zimbabwe IIl⁣⁣ Untitled Unmastered, 2019 Mixed-media painting on canvas, 80 x 61 cm Connect with the Artist

Learn more about the contemporary artist Tope Fatunmbi. Tope Fatunmbi Tope Fatunmbi , a visual artist from Southwest Nigeria, merges contemporary and historical Yoruba life in his bold optical portrait paintings. Focusing on empowering Yoruba women, Fatunmbi's works combine digital and painterly elements, highlighting intricate hairstyles as symbols of fashion and tribal identity. Despite optical art style patterns potentially erasing these women, Fatunmbi elevates them with textural paint, symbolising their resilience. Throughout his work, Fatunmbi demonstrates a keen eye for colour and portraiture, capturing the sincerity of human experience amidst societal shifts. Solitude, 2022 Oil and Acrylic on canvas, 156 x 125 x 3 cm Ejire(twin), 2022 Oil on canvas, 200 x 150 x 3 cm What the Future Holds, 2024 Oil on canvas, 180 x 150 cm Edunjobi (Twin), 2022 Oil on canvas, 200 x 150 x 4 cm Affinity, 2023 Oil and acrylic of canvas, 180 x 150 cm Neon Twirl, 2022 Oil and acrylic of canvas, 196 x 135 x 3 cm Connect with the Artist

Stanley Ugonabo Stanley Ugonabo, is a Nigerian artist who primarily works with oil paint and watercolour. His paintings highlight the complexities of human emotion, often reflecting on male oppression, depression, and loneliness. Influenced by contemporary social challenges, his work explores the psychological landscapes of individuals striving to cope with modern life. Ugonabo’s art often focuses on figures immersed in deep contemplation, featuring distorted forms, mystical colour palettes, and exaggerated anatomies. Using clever compositional techniques, Ugonabo’s unique approach to colour and form invites viewers to engage with the intricacies of the human psyche. A Quiet Place, 2023 Oil on canvas The search, 2023 Oil on canvas Untangled, 2023 Oil on canvas Absolution, 2023 Oil on canvas Supplication, 2023 Previous Next Connect with the Artist >

Billie Zangewa Billie Zangewa, is a Malawi born Johannesburg based artist whose intricate silk collages explore themes of care, identity and femininity. Working primarily with hand stitched raw silk, she centres moments of everyday life, often drawn from her own experiences as a woman and mother, transforming domestic scenes into layered reflections on love, resilience and selfhood. Zangewa’s work uses softness as strength, weaving personal and political narratives that affirm Black womanhood while challenging stereotypes. Her tactile compositions, rich in colour and symbolism, reflect the delicate balance between vulnerability and empowerment, inviting viewers into quiet but powerful acts of introspection and presence. The Rebirth of Black Venus, 2010 Hand-stitched silk collage Soldier of Love, 2020 Hand-stitched silk collage Cold Shower, 2019 Hand-stitched silk collage In My Element, 2023 Hand-stitched silk collage Screenshot 2025-09-03 at 13.01.30.png High Hopes, 2019 Previous Next Connect with the Artist >

Dumbor Debeeh Dumbor Debeeh, also known as Dr Imagination, is a Nigerian-born artist whose work sits at the intersection of Afrosurrealism and Afrofuturism. Raised in Rivers State, his photographic memory and early fascination with nature shaped a practice grounded in observation, detail, and imagination. Working with ballpoint pen, pastel, and acrylic, he creates speculative worlds where organic forms merge with futuristic imagery. His ongoing series Fusionist Realities explores the intersections of humanity, technology, and ecology, reimagining African identity beyond the past and into possible futures. Through symbolic and layered compositions, Debeeh reflects on hybrid existence, cultural continuity, and the emotional impact of progress. Routes and Roots, 2025 Ballpoint pen, pastel and acrylic on paper. 30 X 45 inches Heritage Unbound, 2025 Ballpoint pen, pastel acrylic on paper 30 X 45 inches AFRICAN RENAISSANCE, 2024 Ballpoint pen and acrylic on archival Paper 27 X 36 inches Cultural Codex 2100 Ballpoint pen, pastel and acrylic on paper 42 X 72 inches Beyond flesh and wire Ballpoint pen, pastel acrylic on paper 30 X 39 inches Previous Next Connect with the Artist >

Monthly spotlights on three contemporary artists of African and Caribbean heritage. Interviews | THE.CC ART Conversations with artists on practice, process, and perspective. VISIT YOUTUBE > All Videos Play Video Play Video 28:15 Yvadney Davis – ‘My Art Is a Visual Archive’ | Artist Interview | THE.CCART British-Caribbean artist Yvadney Davis reflects on returning to painting after a career in fashion, and how rediscovering art during the pandemic reshaped her practice and purpose. Working primarily with oil, collage, wallpaper and beadwork, Yvadney’s paintings act as a visual archive of Black British Caribbean life in the UK. Drawing from family history, memory and lived experience, her work explores home, belonging, identity and the emotional inheritance passed through generations. — Connect with THE.CCART 📸 https://www.instagram.com/the.ccart/ 🌍 https://www.theccart.com — ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 – Intro 00:19 – Art Journey 02:36 – Identity 03:44 – Windrush 06:35 – Using wallpaper, collage and memory 09:26 – Art Process 12:46 – Favourite Artwork 16:07 – Connecting with work 17:33 – Motherhood 20:42 – Challenges 21:30 – Imposter Syndrome 22:33 – Staying Committed 25:06 – Motivation 25:40 – Future Planes 27:15 – Final reflections #art #artist #blackbritishart #caribbeandiaspora #contemporaryart #THECCART Play Video Play Video 04:15 Eshinlokun Wasiu – 'When You See My Art, You See Me' | Artist Interview | THE.CCART In this interview, Lagos-based artist Eshinlokun Wasiu opens up about his creative journey, his mother’s encouragement, and how art became both his outlet and his way of connecting with others. 🎨 Working primarily with acrylic and charcoal, Wasiu explores human connection and resilience through his signature silhouette figures. His work reflects shared experiences, challenges, and emotions — reminding us that, regardless of background, we all stem from the same roots. 💬 Hear Wasiu discuss the meaning behind his technique, the challenges of reaching new audiences, and why staying focused is essential for any artist building their path. — Follow Wasiu Eshinlokun 📸 / https://www.instagram.com/eshinlokunwasiu Connect with THE.CCART 📸 / https://www.instagram.com/the.ccart 🌍 https://www.theccart.com Play Video Play Video 10:37 Jayeola Joshua – ‘The Audacity to Dream Big’ | Artist Interview | THE.CCART In this candid interview, Nigerian artist Jayeola Joshua opens up about his journey from childhood sketches on the backs of calendars to becoming a painter exploring culture, self-identity and personal experience. 🎨 Known for weaving powerful symbolism into his work, Joshua often uses the colour red to express themes of passion, determination and strength. His practice reflects deep cultural values and his evolving identity as an artist. 💬 Hear how studying at Yaba College of Technology shaped his foundation, the story behind one of his most meaningful works Jacob’s Blessing, and why he believes in the audacity to dream big, even through moments of self-doubt. — Follow Jayeola Joshua 📸 https://www.instagram.com/jayeola_joshua_art Connect with THE.CCART 📸 / the.ccart 🌍 https://www.theccart.com — ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 – Intro 01:03 – Joshua’s journey into art 03:08 – Moments that shaped him as an artist 04:21 – What keeps him committed 05:10 – Describing his art style 06:05 – Inside his creative process 07:34 – A meaningful artwork: Jacob’s Blessing 08:30 – Challenges as an artist 09:42 – Advice for aspiring artists Play Video Play Video 05:37 Obiwuru Esther – ‘Painting the Beauty of African Women’ | Artist Interview | THE.CCART In this inspiring interview, Nigerian visual artist Obiwuru Esther shares her journey into the art world, from an unexpected beginning at university to establishing herself as a dedicated full-time artist. 🎨 Known for her striking portraits of African women, Obiwuru draws inspiration from traditional hairstyles and cultural essence, using bold patterns and rich shades of red to celebrate identity, strength and beauty. ⚠️ Correction: The caption should refer to 'adire', not red patterns. — Follow Obiwuru Esther 📸 https://www.instagram.com/estherobiwuru_art/ Connect with THE.CCART 📸 https://www.instagram.com/the.ccart 🌍 https://www.theccart.com — ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 – Intro 00:15 – Obiwuru’s journey into art 00:54 – Moments that shaped her as an artist 01:40 – What keeps her committed 02:18 – Describing her art style 02:56 – A meaningful artwork: Lady from the South 03:53 – Inside her creative process 04:34 – Biggest challenges as an artist 05:05 – Advice for aspiring artists Play Video Play Video 22:17 Damilare Jamiu Kanyinsola – 'I Live in Inspiration Every Day' | Artist Interview | THE.CCART In this moving interview, Nigerian portrait artist Damilare Jamiu Kanyinsola shares his incredible journey from drawing comics as a child to developing his own practice that celebrates Black identity, mental well-being and cultural beauty. 🎨 Known for his vibrant, emotionally rich portraiture, Damilare reflects on artistic growth, personal loss, mentorship and the challenges facing Nigerian artists today. 💬 Hear how he navigated moments of depression during the 2020 pandemic, what keeps him committed to his practice and the deep personal meaning behind his most treasured work, Allegory of Memories. — Follow Damilare Jamiu 📸 https://www.instagram.com/damilare_jamiu_kanyin Connect with THE.CCART 📸 https://www.instagram.com/the.ccart 🌍 https://www.theccart.com — ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 – Intro 00:59 – Damilare’s art journey begins 04:05 – A moment that shaped him 05:34 – What keeps him committed 06:21 – Describing his art style 08:57 – A meaningful artwork: Allegory of Memories 11:12 – Inside his creative process 14:42 – Biggest challenge as a Nigerian artist 18:02 – Future plans and dreams 18:53 – Advice to aspiring artists 21:27 – Why mentorship matters 22:00 – Final thoughts #art #artist #contemporaryart #figurativeart #blackartist #nigerianart #THECCART Subscribe to our newsletter Email Subscribe Thanks for subscribing!