By Kodjovi Olympio
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Painting is fearlessly following an instinct for Togolese artist Olympio. His work is honest and palpable—exposed, raw, and direct. It is an unfiltered manifestation of his soul. Bright, energetic marks encircle rough textures, balanced by peaceful compositions emanating from below the surface.
Olympio’s art transforms walls into landscapes of color and form, creating an engaging focal point that elevates any room's aesthetic to a new level. The heavily textured layers in Olympio’s work create a tangible sense of depth, drawing the eye and enriching the space with a bold yet nuanced presence.
Olympio signs this 20-inch high by 24-inch wide mixed-media painting on the back of the canvas. The many layers in his work further emphasize the texture and visceral nature of his canvases. The painting is wired and ready to hang. Free local Los Angeles delivery. Affordable U.S. and global shipping is available. A Certificate of Authenticity issued by Artplex Gallery is included.
For the abstract artist Olympio, art is a dance of textures and colors, woven from an eclectic medley of canvas and textiles. Each stroke on his canvas is a nod to the classical ideals of modern abstraction, a harmonious blend of purpose and spontaneity. The linens and canvases he selects have borne witness to various conditions and interactions, embracing the imprints of their past experiences. Olympio meticulously stretches, glues, and layers these diverse fabrics together, infusing them with additional layers of acrylic paint, a fusion of careful craft and serendipitous revelation.
In Olympio's art, deliberate strokes mingle with accidental splashes, forming a mesmerizing canvas that speaks to the ethos of modernism's evolution. It's a reminder that the legends of yesteryears now manifest as a distinct style, a testament to their enduring influence. His mastery over the medium amplifies, imbuing each piece with a romantic essence carefully counterbalanced by his practiced modesty. The strokes, swirling and turbulent, are immersed in a rich, opulent application of paint, akin to an expansive honeysuckle-pink landscape or a brooding soot-gray abyss. Yet within this whirlwind of impressions, Olympio maintains a sense of purpose, an elusive process that surrenders control to the animated paint and sculptural fabrics.
Olympio possesses a rare duality, orchestrating the delicate balance between sensuality and subtlety within his creations. Navigating these opposing forces, he transcends distractions and attains the perfect pitch, crafting a visual symphony that resonates deeply.
Olympio was born into a large family of eight children in Lomé, Togo, West Africa. He began his creating art by using building scraps to make sculptures. By the time he was in high school, he started to experiment with mixed-media and collage. He later transitioned to acrylic and oil on canvas.
In 2001, Olympio left his home in Africa to live in Paris. Olympio moved to the United States in 2003 and has continued to paint. His work has been exhibited at Art Basel Miami, where in 2018 he was ranked one of the Top 10 Artists by Red Dot Miami. He was also recently interviewed for France 2, TV5Monde, and the BBC. His work has been exhibited and collected internationally.
REPRESENTATION
Artplex Gallery, Los Angeles, California
EXHIBITIONS
2019 Artplex Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
Art Palm Springs, Karyn Mannix Contemporary, Palm Springs, CA
“Voltage,” Artplex Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
LA Art Show, bG Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
“Immigration Celebration, Part I,” Laurent Proneur Gallery
Superfine! Fair, Magic Box LA, Los Angeles, CA
2018 Red Dot Miami, Miami, FL
Art Basel, Miami, FL
Los Angeles Art Show, Los Angeles, CA
Latino Art Museum, Pomona, CA
BG Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
Wallspace at the Brewery Fall Art Walk, Wallspace, Los Angeles, CA
2017 LA Art Walk, Los Angeles, CA
LA Art Show, Los Angeles, CA
The IXA, Art Show, Venice, CA
Gallery AF, Lome, Togo
Haz Gallery, San Pedro, CA
Beverly Hills Art Show, Beverly Hills, CA
2016 LA Art Walk, Los Angeles, CA
“Everything & Nothing: Artworks by Olympio,” Huz Gallery, San Pedro, CA
The North Hollywood Show, Van Nuys, CA
“Everything & Nothing,” Olympio Art Space, North Hollywood, CA
The Old Town Show, San Diego, CA
BG Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
2015 Solo Show, Blackstone Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
Hamilton Galleries, Santa Monica, CA
Blackstone Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2014 Gallery Sommerlath...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Minimalist Mixed Media
MaterialsCanvas, Mixed Media
