JOHNNY BOY'S FIRST KISS
acrylic on canvas
80 x 133cm; 31 1/2 x 52 1/3in
unframed

Painted in 2021.

Property of a Private Collector, New Jersey

Exhibited
Côte d'Ivoire, LouiSimone Guirandou Gallery, DÉCOUVERTES #3, 2021

Provenance
Acquired from the artist by the present owner

Through his exploration of discarded materials and his commitment to recycling, Bara’s art captures the pulse of life in Northern Nigeria and beyond. His paintings, sculpture, and mixed-media works respond to the times and seasons, framing his subjects within cycles of commerce, consumption and survival. Bara aims to reclaim narratives that often reduce individuals to symbols of poverty, instead portraying them as integral members of society with dignity and resilience.

Popularly known as @barasketchbook Toluwanimi Williams is a multidisciplinary artist whose practice bridges art and sustainability. While his Northern Nigerian identity and colourplay remain central to his practice, in recent times his work has evolved to reflect broader social, economic, and environmental realities. Bara is drawn to the human face and figure, not just for their literal narratives but for the deeper stories they suggest, navigating the space between reality and abstraction where faces become symbols and figures merge into landscapes of memory and emotion.

Bara has shown in international exhibitions, including at LouiSimone Guirandou Gallery in Abidjan, the Bishop Museum in Hawaii, and CFHILL in Stockholm. He further honed his craft during a residency at the African Artists Foundation in Lagos in 2020, expanding his practice into set design, photography, and digital illustration.