Chris Ofili Manchester, UK, b. 1968
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Photograph: Kibwe Braithwaite/The Observer
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Chris Ofili is an acclaimed artist renowned for his intricate and captivating paintings as well as his works on paper, which skillfully blend elements of abstraction and figuration.
b. 1968, Manchester, UK
Lives and works in Trinidad
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He received his BA in Fine Art from the Chelsea School of Art in 1991 and his MA in Fine Art from the Royal College of Art in 1993.
His artistic style is distinctive, characterized by complex and playful multi-layered compositions adorned with a signature combination of resin, glitter, collage, and elephant dung. Inspired by the lush landscapes and rich traditions of Trinidad, his home since 2005, Ofili's artwork emanates a vivid and symbolic quality, often veiled in an air of mystery. Drawing from a diverse range of aesthetic and cultural influences, including Zimbabwean cave paintings and modernist art, his creations delve into explorations of identity and representation.
In 1998, Ofili was awarded the prestigious Turner Prize. In 2003, he was selected to represent the UK at the 50th Venice Biennale, further solidifying his position in the art world. In 2010, Tate Britain showcased a comprehensive retrospective of his artistic achievements. Four years later, the New Museum in New York hosted "Night and Day," an exhibition that highlighted over thirty of Ofili's most significant paintings, complemented by drawings and a curated collection of sculptures spanning his illustrious career. This exceptional showcase later embarked on a journey to the Aspen Art Museum in Colorado during 2015. Since then, he has continued to exhibit his work in renowned international art institutions, leaving an indelible mark on the contemporary art scene.
The artist’s works are represented in prominent collections internationally, including The British Museum, London; Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles; The Museum of Modern Art, New York; National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa; Tate, London; Victoria and Albert Museum, London; and the Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
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WorksOpen a larger version of the following image in a popup:
Wassily Kandinsky. Cover design for The Blue Rider Almanac, 1911
Chris Ofili Manchester, UK, b. 1968
Saint Lucian Blue Two, 2006Leather on cardboard278 × 200 cmFurther images
Painted in luminous shades of blue and white, Chris Ofili’s work evokes the spirit of Der Blaue Reiter, the early 20th-century German painting movement that sought to merge visual art...Painted in luminous shades of blue and white, Chris Ofili’s work evokes the spirit of Der Blaue Reiter, the early 20th-century German painting movement that sought to merge visual art with musical sensibilities. Characterized by evocative nocturnal landscapes and an opulent palette of deep, inky blues, this series represents a striking stylistic shift, rooted in the artist’s relocation to Trinidad. Immersed in the island’s unlit twilight, Ofili explores a heightened sensory experience—one shaped by moonlight, darkness, and an unfamiliar sense of mystery that stirs both imagination and a quiet, lingering unease.
"I've found that the night and twilight here enhances the imagination. In the city, our relationship to the night is very particular because it's always illuminated, but here it’s unlit, so you're relying on the light of the moon and the sensitivity of the eyes. It's a different level of consciousness that is less familiar to me, and stimulating through a degree of fear and mystery." – Chris Ofili
Exhibitions
Hunky Dory. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow. Mar–Apr 2007Publications
Hunky Dory. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow, 2007, pp. 50–51Publications