MEET
Paul Ayihawu
Paul Ayihawu is a contemporary Nigerian artist whose figurative works blend charcoal and acrylic to explore the complexity of African identity in a postcolonial world. Based in Nigeria, his practice challenges dominant narratives and reclaims the Black experience through poetic portraiture that merges traditional African textiles with Western influences.
At the heart of Ayihawu’s work is an investigation of cultural hybridity, socio-political memory, and transformation. His portraits — often inverted or recontextualised — depict Black subjects in a symbolic fusion of ankara fabrics and Western dress, reflecting on how African values and self-perception continue to evolve in the wake of colonial impact.
With a quiet yet powerful visual language, Paul honours the unseen, unheard, and untold stories of the African diaspora. His artworks serve as a space of reflection and empowerment, inviting viewers to engage deeply with the nuances of Black identity, resistance, and continuity.
Ayihawu’s work has been acquired by collectors in the USA, South Africa, Ghana, and Nigeria, contributing to a growing global discourse on the importance of African perspectives in contemporary art.
