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Orioye Bukola SamuelWhat about death2025
2025
About the Item
What About Death? is a visually arresting and emotionally layered work by Nigerian contemporary artist Bukola Orioye, known for fusing African spiritual heritage with provocative symbolism and surreal storytelling.
In this painting, Orioye approaches death not with dread, but with curiosity and poetic vibrancy. A flower-crowned figure—part spectral, part regal—stares outward with a red, glowing third eye and exposed skeletal teeth, confronting mortality head-on. Despite the haunting grin, the composition is overflowing with life: butterflies flit freely, flowers bloom lavishly, and iridescent bubbles float across the chest—echoes of breath, fragility, and the soul’s journey.
What Makes It Unique:
Duality of Life and Death: The work subverts traditional representations of death. Instead of decay, we see beauty, elegance, and transformation. The richly detailed floral hat, baroque garment, and glowing butterflies suggest that even in endings, there is metamorphosis.
Symbolic Depth: The third eye speaks to consciousness beyond the physical. The skeleton grinning behind soft petals makes the unseen visible, urging viewers to explore what lies beneath surface perceptions.
Surrealist Craftsmanship: The combination of oil and acrylic brings dimensionality to each brushstroke. The ornate textures, from the lace cuffs to the glossy bubbles, reward close viewing and elevate the work from mere visual to almost tactile experience.
A Philosophical Portrait: This is not just an image—it’s a question, a mirror, and a meditation. It belongs to collectors who value art that challenges conventional narratives and invites prolonged contemplation.
Why It’s Worth $5,000:
This piece is a bold and original work that situates Orioye firmly within the global conversation of artists reshaping contemporary African art. Its symbolic richness, fine detail, and conceptual boldness offer exceptional value for its size and medium. As an emerging voice with a growing international profile, acquiring Orioye’s work at this price point is both an aesthetic and strategic investment.
Additional Details:
Condition: Excellent; will be shipped rolled in a tube
Signature: Signed and dated by the artist in the bottom right corner.
Provenance: Directly from the artist’s studio in Osogbo, Nigeria.
Style: Surrealist Afro-contemporary with baroque and symbolic influences.
- Creator:Orioye Bukola Samuel (1993, Nigerian)
- Creation Year:2025
- Dimensions:Height: 24 in (60.96 cm)Width: 24 in (60.96 cm)Depth: 1 in (2.54 cm)
- Medium:
- Movement & Style:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Gallery Location:Ibadan, NG
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU2878216495562
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