Armand Boua Armand Boua, is an Ivorian artist based in Abidjan, whose textured paintings explore themes of social struggle and human resilience. His work focuses on marginalised communities, particularly the street children of Abidjan, shedding light on their lives amidst political and social turmoil. Using layers of acrylic and collage, Boua applies and strips back paint to create haunting, abstract forms that reflect both the fragility and vitality of his subjects. With his raw, expressive technique, Boua captures the tension between beauty and hardship, inviting viewers to confront the realities often overlooked in everyday life. Gnambro, 2019 Acrylic & collage on linen Mon Frangin, 2024 Acrylic & collage on linen Untitled, 2016 Acrylic & collage on linen Les petits Marrakas 2, 2021 Acrylic & collage on linen Cè Djinzin allons à Gagnoa les Frangins, 2024 Acrylic, newspaper paper, ochre, wood powder, and glue on cardboard, Previous Next Connect with the Artist >

Hopex John Hopex John is a Nigerian hyperrealism artist whose portraits illuminate African identity through depth, precision and emotional resonance. Working primarily with paper, charcoal and colour, he captures the essence of everyday people and moments, transforming realism into a language of empathy and reflection. Entirely self-taught, Hopex began drawing as a child, using art as a way to express imagination and connect with the world around him. His practice is rooted in conversation and observation, finding inspiration in human interaction and the subtleties of expression. Through each portrait, he seeks to honour the individuality of his subjects while exploring broader sociocultural themes that shape contemporary African life. Patiently Waiting Charcoal and acrylic on canvas Afro Charcoal and acrylic on canvas Courier of peace II Charcoal and acrylic on canvas Black power Charcoal, acrylic & fabric on canvas Small Joys Charcoal and acrylic on canvas Previous Next Connect with the Artist >

Jayeola Joshua Jay Joshua is a Nigerian artist whose paintings draw from personal experiences, cultural heritage, and everyday life. Working primarily with expressive colour, texture, and layered detail, he uses red as a recurring element to symbolise strength, passion, and determination. His work often reflects themes of identity, faith, and resilience, translating emotion into bold visual form. Joshua approaches each piece with intention, sketching, researching, and refining as his ideas take shape on canvas. Through his art, he captures moments of struggle and hope, creating scenes that speak to growth, self-belief, and the courage to keep pushing forward. Lady in Pearl, 2023 Acrylic on canvas Daddy’s Shoe Acrylic on canvas The girl child Acrylic on canvas Jacob’s blessing Acrylic on canvas Safe Space Acrylic on canvas Previous Next Connect with the Artist >

Stephen Langa Stephen Langa is a South African artist whose work captures the lived experiences of Black communities across rural and urban life. Working with oil, charcoal, and soft pastels, his expressive scenes are shaped by personal memories, a deep connection to place, and inspiration from his father, who is also an artist. Influenced by Impressionism an art movement that began in France in the late 19th century, characterised by its focus on capturing brief moments, light, and atmosphere, rather than precise details or traditional realism. and artists like George Pem-bah Sterphen compositions often centre quiet, everyday moments filled with feeling. His layered textures and subtle detail evoke both intimacy and introspection, inviting viewers to reflect on shifting identities, belonging, and the realities of movement between spaces. Like my mother, 2024 Oil on canvas Moment of Time, 2022 Charcoal and soft pastels on paper For in the colors of love, Her eye's Define, 2024 Charcoal and soft pastels on paper At the gambling table they are no fathers & son's, 2023 Charcoal and soft pastels on paper Through the window I see "2" Self portrait, 2024 Oil on canvas Previous Next Connect with the Artist >

Nana Osei Nana Osei, also known as Victor Osei Mensah, is a Ghanaian contemporary artist whose figurative paintings draw from ancestry, identity and youthful optimism. Self-taught and working mainly with acrylic and oil on canvas, he centres his subjects through expressive eyes that act as mirrors of emotion and inner life. Ancestral tribal marks and patterned details appear across his figures, grounding them in African heritage while speaking to the ambitions of adolescence. His work reflects a personal language shaped by memory, culture and observation, using colour and form to translate emotion into visual stories. Through painting, Nana Osei shares fragments of his identity, inviting viewers to connect with both feeling and tradition. Yellow Rose For My Love, 2022 Oil and Acrylic on canvas Turquoise Glasses,2023 Acrylic on canvas Dining on Desire, 2024 Acrylic on canvas Son of the Soil, 2022 Oil and Acrylic on canvas Fiery Pleasure, 2025 Acrylic on Canvas Previous Next Connect with the Artist >

Yvadney Davis Yvadney Davis is a British Caribbean artist whose practice centres on memory, home and the lived experience of the Caribbean diaspora in the UK. Returning to painting during the pandemic, she found the process both meditative and grounding, allowing mark-making to become a way of holding emotion and history. Her work draws deeply from family narratives, particularly the Windrush generation, transforming domestic details such as wallpaper, pattern and ornament into visual archives of belonging. Through painting and collage, Davis captures everyday moments, inherited stories and collective memory, creating spaces where personal history becomes shared experience and where overlooked lives are made visible with tenderness and care. She Wore the Islands, 2025 Mixed Media Inset Day, 2025 Mixed Media Sorrow, SE22, 2025 Mixed Media Afternoon Down East Street Market, 2025 Mixed Media This Is My Little Boy, 2024 Mixed Media Previous Next Connect with the Artist >

Obiwuru Esther Obiwuru Esther is a Nigerian visual artist whose paintings focus on the beauty and strength of African women. Her work often highlights hairstyles as symbols of identity and self-expression, reflecting how culture and individuality are intertwined. Using warm tones and layered textures, she brings attention to everyday moments that show confidence and pride. Esther’s process is instinctive, guided by emotion and lived experience. Each piece carries a sense of storytelling, celebrating African womanhood while exploring how art can connect people through shared history, presence, and the quiet power of representation. Lady from the south Acrylic on canvas Shade, 2022 Acrylic on canvas Lady Drummer II, 2024 Acrylic on canvas Dauntless II, 2023 Acrylic on canvas Ewa, 2022 Acrylic on canvas Previous Next Connect with the Artist >

Hamid Nii Nortey Hamid Nii Nortey, is a self-taught Ghanaian artist based in Accra, whose colourful figurative paintings explore Ghana’s fast-evolving social landscape and the broader shifts across the continent. His work sheds light on diverse social classes and the generational developments that shape everyday life. Using acrylic, Nortey’s distinctive cross-hatching technique, applied to the skin of his figures, adds organic texture and depth. The fine, layered lines contrast with his smooth, Impressionist-inspired palette of sienna and burnt sienna, evoking the tactile quality of skin. Fascinated by architectural structures and interior spaces, he builds scenes that reflect the energy and perspective of a bustling city. Through his work, Nortey invites viewers to step into the world of Ghana’s glamorous and successful, capturing its charm, complexity, and cultural vibrancy. Colourful Love, 2021 Acrylic on canvas Morning at my window, 2024 Acrylic on canvas Ride through life full of love Acrylic on canvas Togetherness is the beginning of progress towards success, 2021 Acrylic on canvas Build an empire , leave a legacy Acrylic on canvas Previous Next Connect with the Artist >

Hammed Abolaji Oba Hammed Abolaji Oba is a Lagos-based social-realist painter and graduate of Yaba College of Technology whose practice combines bold palette knife technique with rich textural depth. Working primarily with acrylic on canvas, he incorporates gold paint as a deliberate gesture of elevation, honouring his subjects while weaving technical realism with traditional African motif. His work addresses themes of economic disparity, religious influence, and resilience, driven by a commitment to equity and the collective striving of society. TANGLED IN GOLD, 2025 Acrylic on canvas ILE OBINRIN O KIN PE SU, 2025 Acrylic on canvas ÌFẸ́ ÀTIJỌ́" Painting Acrylic on canvas BEYOND THE GAZE: UNVEILING WORLDS WITHIN, 2025 Acrylic on canvas THE GOLD BENEATH THE SURFACE, 2024 Acrylic on canvas Previous Next Connect with the Artist >

Olamide Ogunade Olisco Olamide Ogunade, known as Olisco, is a Nigerian artist whose portraits combine charcoal, graphite and acrylic to capture the rhythm of life in contemporary African society. His work explores skin as a surface of identity, using tone and texture to reflect individuality and emotion. The recurring bubbles that appear across his compositions serve as symbols of pressure, release and the temporary nature of struggle. Drawing from his surroundings and daily encounters, Olisco’s detailed approach invites viewers to look closely and reflect on the resilience and energy that define his world. Classic Discussion, 2024 Charcoal and acrylic on canvas In His Embrace, 2023 Acrylic on canvas You Are Not Alone, 2022 Charcoal and acrylic on canvas Big Sister, 2023 Acrylic on canvas Her World, Her Poodle, 2025 Charcoal and acrylic on canvas Previous Next Connect with the Artist >

April Kamunde April Kamunde, is a Kenyan artist based in Nairobi, whose oil paintings explore rest, emotional exhaustion, and the quiet strength of women navigating everyday life. Her work blends personal experience with shared realities, using soft brushwork and intimate scenes to reflect moments of stillness and introspection. In her recent Rest Series, Kamunde places her female subjects in lush, natural settings as a response to the demands of fast-paced city life. A repeated feature in her work is the dera, a loose-fitting dress popular in East Africa, often worn at home for comfort. The dera represents personal space and emotional relief, reflecting the need to slow down and choose oneself. She invites viewers to reflect on the weight carried by women and the importance of rest as an act of care. Sijiskii (I don't feel like it), 2023 Oil on canvas Sometimes this is how we therapy III, 2023 Oil on canvas AFUENI MDOGO MDOGO II (Small small relief II) Oil on canvas Tafakari ya Mama Max II: Ughh!, 2022 Oil on canvas Sometimes this is how we therapy I, 2023 Oil on canvas Previous Next Connect with the Artist >