Black Heritage 1 by Oluwafemi Akanmu
Explore Mondoir Studio
Medium: Charcoal and acrylic on canvas
Dimensions: 36 x 48 in
Year: 2025
Price: $2800.00 USD
Status: available
Black heritage refers to the rich cultural, historical, and social contributions of Black individuals and communities throughout history. It encompasses the traditions, values, and achievements that have shaped the experiences of people of African descent, particularly in relation to their struggles against oppression and their resilience in the face of adversity.
Why collect this work?
A frontal portrait uses the tension between carefully modelled features and a compressed yellow field to present heritage as a living framework for individual presence, not merely a historical subject.
- Akanmu states that his practice emphasizes the dignity of Black identity through African history, tradition and lived experience. In this work, that intention takes the form of a composed individual rather than an illustrative scene.
- In the photograph, the sitter’s direct gaze anchors the composition. Her sculptural braids, bright hoop earring and pale, lace-edged garment sharpen the silhouette, while interlocking background shapes crowd its edges and keep figure and setting visually connected.
- The documented combination of charcoal and acrylic allows tonal modelling and opaque colour to coexist. Here, gradual shifts across the face are set against flatter, repeated forms, distinguishing bodily volume from patterned space without fully separating them.
- The painting supports consideration of how contemporary portraiture carries cultural meaning through formal choices. Hairstyle, dress and ornament remain specific visual details, while the near-abstract background prevents the figure from becoming a simple historical illustration.
About the Artist
Oluwafemi Akanmu
Oluwafemi Akanmu is an artist on Mondoir Studio. Artistic discipline: painting. Based in Ibadan, NG.
Nationality: Nigerian
Through my art, I intentionally highlight the richness of African culture and its enduring beauty, with particular emphasis on the dignity and...
