BECOMING LIGHT by Oluwafemi Afolabi
Explore Mondoir Studio
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Dimensions: 18 x 24 in
Year: 2025
Price: $850.00 USD
Status: available
"Becoming Light" is a deeply personal exploration of transformation and resilience. I was inspired by the journey of turning hardship into brilliance, where each trial becomes a brushstroke of color, and every scar transforms into a gentle glow. This piece captures the essence of a woman who no longer seeks light externally but embodies it fully. Her presence radiates a serene strength, a testament to the quiet power of endurance. In creating this painting, I chose a rich palette of greens and yellows to symbolize growth and enlightenment. The intricate patterns on her skin reflect her inner journey, etched by experiences that have shaped her soul. The textured background, a tapestry of vibrant hues, represents the chaos that has been harmonized into beauty. I hope viewers feel the calm grace that emanates from her. May this artwork remind you that true light is born from embracing truth and perseverance. As Isaiah 60:1 suggests, we are called to arise and shine, for the light within us is a reflection of enduring strength and divine glory.
Why collect this work?
A sharply bounded portrait makes illumination a matter of visual pressure: the green figure remains clearly defined while dense yellow, white and black marks crowd the surrounding field.
- Afolabi states that his practice addresses women, hardship and hope. His account of this painting frames its subject as embodying resilience, an intention that informs, but does not determine, its effect.
- In the supplied photograph, the sitter turns away while looking sideways toward the viewer. Fine linear motifs cross her face and neck, complicating the solid green silhouette without obscuring her features.
- Catalogued as acrylic on canvas, the painting sets broad opaque areas against small, scattered marks and narrow lines. This variation distinguishes face, clothing and ground while linking them through repeated pattern.
- Within contemporary portraiture, the work provides a focused case for considering how likeness can coexist with surface pattern, and how a figure may appear composed amid an optically crowded setting.
About the Artist
Oluwafemi Afolabi
Oluwafemi Afolabi is an artist on Mondoir Studio. Artistic discipline: painting. Based in Ibadan , NG.
Nationality: Nigerian
To be precise, my art is my means of self-expression, the reflection of my community and the appreciation of nature; an avenue to capture and...
