The Galerie Montmartre
Open Monday to Sunday, from 9:30am to 6:30pm
Kip Omolade
Kip Omolade is a contemporary American artist, born in Harlem in 1969, known for his unique painting technique that explores the textures and shapes of human faces. His artistic practice is based on creating large-scale portraits, in which he uses layers of paint to create effects of relief and depth.
Kip Omolade’s work has been exhibited in numerous museums and art galleries throughout the United States, as well as abroad. He has also been featured in numerous magazines and publications, including Juxtapoz, Hi-Fructose, and the New York Times.
Our artworks
Video of KIP OMOLADE
Biography
Artistic training
Kip Omolade began his artistic career as a graffiti artist in Brooklyn. At that time, he completed a series of internships in illustration at Marvel Comics and the Center for African Art (formerly the Museum for African Art). His ambition and desire to learn led him to continue his studies at the Art Students League of New York, then at the School of Visual Arts, from which he graduated.
It was there that he met Garin Baker, an art history professor and painter, who became his mentor. Baker convinced him to take his oil painting classes and encouraged him to experiment. Kip Omolade cites his teacher as the greatest influence on his artistic career: “He changed my life by teaching me to paint from nature with compassion.”
The inspiration behind the “Diovadiova” series
Always fascinated by traditional Renaissance portraits, he uses modern techniques to create works that transcend the boundaries between classical and contemporary art.
The artist draws inspiration from traditional West African art, specifically Beninese art, which is marked by the symbolism of ritual masks. He combines this cultural and family heritage with his mastery of the aesthetic codes of post-war American pop culture.
The “Diovadiova Chrome” series challenges contemporary beauty standards and the idea that people present a masked version of themselves to the world.
Kip Omolade invented the title of the series by combining two Italian words: “Dio,” which means “god,” and “diva,” which means “goddess.” Diovadiova blends contemporary and historical sources of inspiration, referencing both the aesthetic characteristics of comic book superheroes and traditional African art objects, such as ivory masks from Benin and Nigerian copper alloy sculptures.
A work of depth
The process of creating his portraits begins with making a plaster cast of his subject’s face, which he then uses as the basis for his painting. He applies multiple layers of oil paint, using a palette knife to create textures and shapes that bring his portraits to life.
Kip Omolade explores the relationship between surface and depth, using the texture of the paint to create effects of light and movement that bring his portraits to life. The artist also uses bright colors and stark contrasts to create dramatic and striking effects.
Kip Omolade’s work is an example of how art can transcend the boundaries between genres and styles, creating works that are both traditional and modern. His unique use of texture and color creates portraits that are vibrant and intense, while retaining a timeless quality that allows them to transcend eras and cultures.