Changing the Beauty Myth with Artist Lasisi Babtunde Damilare

 Lasisi Babatunde Damilare is a Nigerian artist who focuses on the ironies of the human body. In his work he challenges the notions of beauty and youth and uses humour to portray people with exaggerated bodies. They are depicted in the throes of daily life without any awareness of their size. As a result they become human, sympathetic and genuine. We see his talent securely matching his subject matter. He doesn’t shy away from poking fun at the ideal beauty. Through careful consideration of what it means to be thin or not thin he strips away society’s ideal. In turn, he reveals a fresh new image. We can appreciate his efforts as we empathize with his subject matter. No one is perfect and it is through carefree disregard that we can attain freedom from the ideal body.  

1 Lasisi Babatunde Damilare, Life in a Fishbowl, Nigerian

2 Lasisi Babatunde Damilare, Sound on Silence, 2020, Nigerian

3 Lasisi Babatunde Damilare, My Goal Not Yours, 2022, Nigerian

4 Lasisi Babatunde Damilare, My Goal Not Yours 2, 2022, Nigerian

5 Lasisi Babatunde Damilare, Quiet Time, 2023 Nigerian

6 Lasisi Babatunde Damilare, Painting Sounds on Silence, 2020, Nigerian

7 Lasisi Babatunde Damilare, My Confession, 2023, Nigerian

8 Lasisi Babatunde Damilare, I Have a Dream Song, 2022, Nigerian

9 Lasisi Babatunde Damilare, Hard to say Goodbye, 2022, Nigerian

10 Lasisi Babatunde Damilare, Check the Balance, 2020, Nigerian

11 Lasisi Babatunde Damilare, Spreading Your Linen, 2024,J Nigerian

12 Lasisi Babatunde Damilare, The Custodian, 2021, Nigerian

13 Lasisi Babatunde Damilare, The Sojourner's Diary, 2022, Nigerian

14 Lasisi Babatunde Damilare, Our Tango Moment 2020, Nigerian

15 Lasisi Babatunde Damilare, My Happy Place, 2023,J Nigerian

16 Lasisi Babatunde Damilare, Towards the Unknown, 2024, Nigerian

17 Lasisi Babatunde Damilare, Madame Lisa, 2020, Nigerian

San Francisco Art Fair 2024

Alma Landeta, Trans Joy Powerhouse, 2024, American

Dominic Finocchio, Pleasure Seeker, 2024, American

Elizabeth Patterson, Chicago, 2024, American

Gwen Manfrin, Evening's Echo, 2023, American

Isabelle Menin, Changing Moods Pink, 2023, Belgian

Jay Kelly, As the Dawn, 2024, American

Kevin Sabo, Working the angles, 2022, American

Marie Njoku Obi, A Blessing for the Black Children, 2017, American

Nikolina Kovalenko, Down the Starpath, 2024, Russian

Shima Shanti, Etched in Stone, 2024, American

The Expo Chicago Art Fair 2024 Continued

The Expo Chicago Art Fair 2024 had a great deal of art on display, so much so that I needed a second installment. Please enjoy.

1 Luella Bartley, Untitled, 2024, British

 2 Gordon Parks, Untitled, Shady Grove, Alabama, 1956, American

3 Malcolm T. Liepke, Hand to Chest, 2023, American

4 Georges Braque, L'essor II, 1961, French

5 Massimo Vitali, Animaletti 1, 2004, Italian

6 Reisha Perlmutter, Convergence, 2023, American

7 Rance Jones, Helado, 2020, Cuban

8 Mamus Esiebo, Motherly Love, 2024, Nigerian

9 Maria Vanik, Virus Circle, 2021, American

10 Melvin L. Nesbitt Jr. Grown Folk Business, 2024, African American

11 Emmanuel Barcilon, Untitled, 2024, French

12 Shikeith, Hazy Blues, 2022, African American

13 Aviwe Plaatjie, Chain Smoker, 2024, South African

14 Matthijs Scholten, Pizzini, 2023, Dutch

15 Zanele Muholi, Somnyama Nognyama, 2024, South African

19 Ta coumba T. Aiken, Hold On, 2024, African American

20 Christa David, Untitled, 2024, African American

The Expo Chicago 2024 art fair was undeniably excellent

The Expo Chicago 2024 art fair is always an unforgettable experience. It couples established artists together with emerging ones from all over the world. This year showcased many talented African American artists and the African diaspora. There were other countries on full display too and you shall see that here. In Olasunkanmi Akomolehin's Dare to Dream. we see a joyous celebration of life tied together with nature. Everything is in bloom and we see hope before us. In Ashley January's In Memory of Baby Roland we see the impact that motherhood has and the tragedy of death. It's a beautiful painting that shapes memory and love in place of sorrow. In Sheena Rose's Volume we see the Barbadian artist celebrating femininity and the beauty of the female form. Movement is at play and we can see bodies dancing in rhythm with the women's hair in full volume and full of pride. Xavier Daniels, Wishful Thinker in an ingenious work of art showing a young boy with his face split in half. It deserves contemplation. The boy is pensive and there is redness in his eyes. He is longing for something else, perhaps something that will bring him wholeness. It is wonderfully rendered and the talent is undeniable. 

1 Olasunkanmi Akomolehin, Dare to Dream, 2022, Nigerian

2 Ricky Burrows, Untitled, 2024, African American

3 Ashley January, In Memory of Baby Roland, 2024, African American

4 Catheris Mondombo, Sublime Femme en T shirt, 2020, Congolese

5 Miles Regis, More than meets the eye, 2022, Trinidadian

6 Hung Liu, Manchu Bride Study, 2015, Chinese

7 Entang Wiharso, American Gothic with Broken Pitchfork, 2022, Indonesian

8 Alic Brock, An Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Away, 2024, American

8 Martin and Sicilia, Al pan pan y al vino vino, 2023, Spanish

9 Emmie Nume, Jinja, 2022. Ugandan

10 Jarek Puczel, Lovers, 15 2022, Polish

11 Sheena Rose, Volume, 2024, Barbadian

12 Cathy Daley, Untitled 2, N.D., Canadian

13 Elvire Bonduelle, Buisson, 2015, French

14 Caio Fonseca, Tenth Street, No. 52, 1994, American

15 Robert A Sengstacke, Dr. Martin Luther King, Chicago, 1964, African American

16 Xavier Daniels, Wishful Thinker, 2024, African American