Barry Yusufu's Minimalist Portraits

Self-taught Nigerian artist, Barry Yusufu, uses acrylic and charcoal to bring us these beautiful minimalist portraits. In this Stories of Black series, he showcases (mostly) women, in a beautiful seemingly subtle mix of colours, his subjects interact with a single idea that has to do with African culture and ideals.

For example, a lady in blue stands beside a traditional terracotta that depicts the vast stolen traditional art but also how, despite that rich historical artistic prowess, African art in now not as appreciated. Another lady in blue stands beside an 80s-style television, depicting how material things have literally taken over our lives.

Yusufu uses his art to speak about these cultural and topical issues, and many others that his thoughts freely take him to. His characteristic flowers show up in most of his paintings, almost as if inviting us to hope, despite the negativity of the issues being posed.

See some of the works from Stories of Black below.

Find more of Barry Yusufu’s art here