Chris Ofili

b. 1968, British

By Sylvia Walker

December 20, 2021

Biography

Born in 1968 in Manchester, the United Kingdom, Chris Ofili is a British representational painter, residing and working in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. He is best known for his distinctive figurative language, using a colorful palette and rich textures.

Chris Ofili is part of the Young British Artists. The winner of the 1998 Turner Prize, implements collage, glitters and dots into his painterly practice. With his impressive and characteristic visual language, Ofili examines Nigerian history, exoticism, African culture, black stereotypes, and aims to create narratives inspired by various issues such as film, popular culture, religion, or personal experiences.[1]

One encounters many cultural elements or icons. Sacred or profane, personal or political, high art or popular culture. He flattens the picture plane, layering surfaces and different sources of inspiration. Doing so, the subject matter varies from jazz or hip hop up to the Bible or Ovid’s Metamorphoses.[2]

Chris Ofili in his studio. Photo: Ian Allen

Career Facts

Ofili is represented by industry leading art galleries such as Victoria Miro or David Zwirner. He completed his BA in Fine Art at the Chelsea School of Art, followed by his MA in Fine Art at the Royal College of Art.

The British artist has exhibited at major institutions and art events, encompassing the Venice Biennale, Italy; the Institute for Contemporary Art in Miami, the United States of America; the National Gallery in London, the United Kingdom; the New Museum in New York, the United States of America; the Aspen Art Museum in Aspen, the United States of America; the Arts Club of Chicago, the United States of America; the Tate Britain in London, the United Kingdom; the Kestner Gesellschaft in Hannover, Germany; or the Studio Museum in Harlem, the United States of America.

Chris Ofili Books

For further reading, we strongly recommend Chris Ofili: Night and Day.

Artworks

Chris Ofili, Ovid-Actaeon, 2011-2012. Oil and charcoal on linen – 317.5 × 198.1 cm. Collection New Museum, New York.

Chris Ofili, Untitled, 2003. Oil on canvas – 40.6 × 30.5 × 2.5 cm. Courtesy Gallery 532 Gallery Thomas Jaeckel.

Chris Ofili, Forgive Them (Installation view), 2015. Oil on linen.56th Venice Biennale.

Chris Ofili, Ovid-Desire, 2011-2012. Oil, pastel, and charcoal on linen – 309.9 × 200 cm. Collection New Museum, New York.

Chris Ofili, Triple Beam Dreamer, 2001-2002. Acrylic, oil, leaves, glitter, polyester resin, map pins, and elephant dung on linen – 182.9 × 304.8 cm. Collection New Museum, New York.

Chris Ofili, The Adoration of Captain Shit and the Legend of the Black Stars (Third Version), 1998. Oil, acrylic, polyester resin, paper collage, glitter, map pins, and elephant dung on linen – 243.8 × 182.9 cm. Collection New Museum, New York.

Chris Ofili, Pimpin’ ain’t easy, 1997. Oil, polyester resin, paper collage, glitter, map pins, and elephant dung on linen – 243.8 × 182.9 cm. Collection New Museum, New York.

Chris Ofili, Nude Study in Blue, 2006. Oil on canvas – 50.5 × 40.5 cm. Courtesy Phillips.

Chris Ofili, Confession (Lady Chancellor), 2007. Oil on linen – 280.9 × 195.1 cm. Collection New Museum, New York.

Chris Ofili, Untitled (Afromuse), 1995-2005. Watercolor and pencil on paper – 24.4 × 15.7 cm. Collection New Museum, New York.

Notes:

[1] Artsy, Chris Ofili at https://www.artsy.net/artist/chris-ofili consulted 12/12/2020.
[2] Victoria Miro, Chris Ofili at https://www.victoria-miro.com/artists/6-chris-ofili/ consulted 20/12/2021.

Last Updated on May 3, 2023

Sylvia Walker

Sylvia Walker (b. 1986, US) is an art historian, essayist, art critic, and curator. After contributing to numerous publications, and curating exhibitions in the United States of America and beyond, she currently works as the assistant director of Contemporary Art Issue (CAI).

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