OMA

Acquired directly from the artist by the present owner

Renowned for his distinctive fusion of Western and African approaches to the development of his motifs, OMA (aka Cyril Omamogho) has established himself as an important contemporary artist for his employment of a diverse and everchanging subject matter, choosing not to limit his work to any predetermined schema of practice. The Globe and Don’t Step on my Blue Suede Shoes epitomize the vibrance and versatility of the artist’s practice. Here, OMA appropriates the language of Western portraiture, depicting his figures in stately dress, gazing directly at the viewer. OMA thus imbues his figures with an authoritative sense of elegance. The contrast between the subject of the work and the tradition from which the scene originates creates a tension which elevates the work from a representation toward a pointed commentary on the origins and ownership of visual culture and its respective national traditions.