7th May, 2025 12:00
Modern & Contemporary African & Middle Eastern Art
13
KINGSLEY OBASI (NIGERIAN B.1983)
UNTITLED
signed and dated 22 ObasiKingsley lower left
acrylic on canvas
152 x 107cm; 59 3/4 x 42in
unframed
Property of a Private Collector, London
Provenance
Acquired from the artist by the present owner
Born in Abia State, Nigeria, Kingsley Obasi has developed a striking figurative style that has drawn recent international attention. The present work, created in 2020, draws inspiration from Dutch Old Master portraits. The subject, a Black man adorned in a lace-trimmed collar reminiscent of Rembrandt’s self-portraits, embodies Obasi’s active engagement with art history, and his reinterpretation of iconic compositions through a blend of abstraction and figuration. By repurposing visual tropes from Western painting, he questions the underlying power dynamics of traditional portraiture, reimagining whose stories are told within the canon.
After studying at Yaba College of Technology, Obasi worked as as an art teacher in Lagos before transitioning to full-time practice.
His work has been showcased at Signature African Art Gallery in London, including a solo exhibition in 2019 and a group show in 2021 titled One’s Guise. His work has also been shown at Fondation Gandur pour l'Art, Geneva.
Obasi’s portraits blend historical and contemporary influences, presenting an array of fictional, historical and popular figures and often exaggerating his subjects’ eyes, exposing the tension between outward appearances and inner realities.
Sold for £1,500
UNTITLED
signed and dated 22 ObasiKingsley lower left
acrylic on canvas
152 x 107cm; 59 3/4 x 42in
unframed
Property of a Private Collector, London
Provenance
Acquired from the artist by the present owner
Born in Abia State, Nigeria, Kingsley Obasi has developed a striking figurative style that has drawn recent international attention. The present work, created in 2020, draws inspiration from Dutch Old Master portraits. The subject, a Black man adorned in a lace-trimmed collar reminiscent of Rembrandt’s self-portraits, embodies Obasi’s active engagement with art history, and his reinterpretation of iconic compositions through a blend of abstraction and figuration. By repurposing visual tropes from Western painting, he questions the underlying power dynamics of traditional portraiture, reimagining whose stories are told within the canon.
After studying at Yaba College of Technology, Obasi worked as as an art teacher in Lagos before transitioning to full-time practice.
His work has been showcased at Signature African Art Gallery in London, including a solo exhibition in 2019 and a group show in 2021 titled One’s Guise. His work has also been shown at Fondation Gandur pour l'Art, Geneva.
Obasi’s portraits blend historical and contemporary influences, presenting an array of fictional, historical and popular figures and often exaggerating his subjects’ eyes, exposing the tension between outward appearances and inner realities.
Auction: Modern & Contemporary African & Middle Eastern Art, 7th May, 2025
Auction Location: London, UK
The Modern & Contemporary African and Middle Eastern Art market has flourished over the last 15 years and continues to grow, establishing a strong foothold in the UK. Our expert department at Olympia Auctions has, uniquely among other auction houses, brought together the synergies of the Arab world, Maghreb and the rest of Africa, reflecting the mutuality and shared history of these regions.
Our previous sales have included works from the collection of the late Saudi collector, Dr Mohammed Said Farsi and the Zulficar Family Collection.
Each spring and autumn, we hold bi-annual, tightly curated, live auctions, offering both young and established collectors the opportunity to acquire works in a wide range of price brackets.
Contact expert Janet Rady to consign in a future sale or for any queries: janet.rady@olympiaauctions.com | + 44 (0)20 7806 5541
For further sale enquiries please contact Isobel Bambury: isobel.bambury@olympiaauctions.com | + 44 (0)20 7806 5541
PUBLIC EXHIBITION
Thursday 1st May: 10:00am- 8.30pm (Private View: 5:00 - 8:30pm including Panel Discussion at 7:00pm)
Friday 2nd May: 10:00am-5:00pm
Monday 5th May: 12:00pm-4:00pm
Tuesday 6th May 10:00am - 5:00pm
AUCTION
Wednesday 7th May, 12:00pm
Viewing
Public Exhibition:
Thursday 1st May: 10:00am- 8.30pm (Private View: 5:00pm - 8:30pm including Panel Discussion at 7:00pm)
Friday 2nd May: 10:00am-5:00pm
Monday 5th May: 12:00pm-4:00pm
Tuesday 6th May 10:00am - 5:00pm
AUCTION
Wednesday 7th May, 12:00pm
