Items Similar to Retrospection (Gelede) - African Portrait Painting with Traditional Yoruba Mask
Video Loading
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 9
Orioye Bukola SamuelRetrospection (Gelede) - African Portrait Painting with Traditional Yoruba Mask2023
2023
$3,500
£2,688.92
€3,089.54
CA$4,923.18
A$5,530.98
CHF 2,889.94
MX$67,508.15
NOK 36,693.84
SEK 34,539.52
DKK 23,055.29
About the Item
Retrospection (Gelede) is a visually elegant and symbolically potent portrait by Nigerian contemporary artist Bukola Orioye, whose work consistently explores the interweaving of identity, memory, and African spiritual traditions.
This piece portrays a poised Black woman in vivid traditional attire, adorned with a Gelede mask - an ancestral artifact of the Yoruba people known for honoring feminine power, wisdom, and social harmony. Her expression is grounded and introspective, inviting the viewer into a reflective dialogue between self, culture, and spirit. Behind her, luminous green leaves bloom gently, suggesting fertility, healing, and connection to the earth.
What Makes It Unique:
Cultural Depth: The use of a Gelede mask as both a crown and spiritual symbol elevates this painting from portraiture to cultural homage. It acknowledges the sacred roles of women in Yoruba cosmology and the endurance of indigenous knowledge systems.
Oval Format: The rare oval canvas breaks from traditional formats, echoing classical portraiture while asserting a distinct, contemporary voice.
Masterful Execution: Orioye’s layering of oil and acrylic creates a subtle interplay of textures, gloss against matte, deep shadows against vivid color that gives the figure dimensional presence and emotional weight.
Personal and Political: The painting is both intimate and historical. It reflects Orioye’s broader practice of "questioning the present through the past for a better future," offering a powerful meditation on identity, heritage, and Black resilience.
Why It’s Worth $3,000:
This piece combines fine technique, rare composition, and cultural symbolism that speaks directly to collectors of African contemporary art. Its emotional depth and historic reference make it a standout in portrait-based works. As Orioye’s profile continues to grow internationally, this piece offers strong investment potential while remaining a profound visual and spiritual statement.
Additional Details:
Condition: Excellent; professionally finished edges and ready for framing or display.
Signature: Signed and dated by the artist on the front.
Provenance: From the artist’s studio in Osogbo, Nigeria a city known for its UNESCO-recognized cultural heritage.
Style: Contemporary African portraiture with cultural symbolism and spiritual undertones.
- Creator:Orioye Bukola Samuel (1993, Nigerian)
- Creation Year:2023
- Dimensions:Height: 19.69 in (50 cm)Diameter: 15.75 in (40 cm)
- Medium:
- Period:
- Framing:Framing Options Available
- Condition:
- Gallery Location:Ibadan, NG
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU2878216515902
About the Seller
New to 1stDibs
Joined in the past six months.
No Reviews Yet
Vetted Professional Seller
Every seller passes strict standards for authenticity and reliability
Established in 2019
1stDibs seller since 2025
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Shipping from: Ibadan, Nigeria
- Return Policy
Authenticity Guarantee
In the unlikely event there’s an issue with an item’s authenticity, contact us within 1 year for a full refund. DetailsMoney-Back Guarantee
If your item is not as described, is damaged in transit, or does not arrive, contact us within 7 days for a full refund. Details24-Hour Cancellation
You have a 24-hour grace period in which to reconsider your purchase, with no questions asked.Vetted Professional Sellers
Our world-class sellers must adhere to strict standards for service and quality, maintaining the integrity of our listings.Price-Match Guarantee
If you find that a seller listed the same item for a lower price elsewhere, we’ll match it.Trusted Global Delivery
Our best-in-class carrier network provides specialized shipping options worldwide, including custom delivery.More From This Seller
View AllStories Within - Contemporary African Portrait Painting Culrure Identity
Located in Ibadan, NG
What Makes This Piece Unique or Special:
Stories Within is a striking contemporary portrait that blends bold aesthetics with introspective storytelling. What makes this painting particularly special is its ability to capture a deeply personal yet universally relatable emotion the quiet power of shared human experiences that often remain unspoken. Bukola Orioye...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic, Oil, Linen
As Above..., As within..., The answers we seek - 21st Century Yoruba Tribal Art
Located in Ibadan, NG
This striking mixed media work by Bukola Orioye is a powerful fusion of tradition and transcendence. “as above... as within... the answers we seek” invites you into a sacred space wh...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Portrait Paintings
Materials
Oil, Acrylic
Asake Bee Keeper - Symbolic African Portrait in Mixed Media (Oil & Acrylic)
Located in Ibadan, NG
“Beekeeper” is a distinctive work that fuses cultural heritage, symbolism, and contemporary portraiture in a way that is both elegant and thought-provoking. The painting showcases a central female figure wearing the traditional Shuku hairstyle; a Yoruba style historically reserved for women of high regard, making a powerful statement on identity, ancestry, and African femininity. The inclusion of water lilies adds a layer of symbolism around resilience and renewal, further enriching the narrative.
What truly sets this piece apart is its metaphor: the “beekeeper” as a quiet, protective presence someone who nurtures sweetness while bearing the risk of the sting. It speaks to unseen labor, cultural preservation, and spiritual guardianship. This poetic symbolism, combined with bold composition and color, makes it emotionally resonant and visually memorable.
Why is it worth the price?
This painting is an investment in both visual excellence and cultural significance. As an original piece by Bukola Orioye...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Materials
Cotton Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
Hope for the Future - Original Contemporary African Child Portrait
Located in Ibadan, NG
What Makes This Piece Unique or Special?
"Hope for the Future" is a captivating and deeply unique work that showcases Bukola Orioye's signature textured ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Portrait Paintings
Materials
Cotton Canvas, Acrylic
African Woman Essence - Contemporary Figurative Portrait of Black Beauty
Located in Ibadan, NG
African Woman Essence is a commanding and graceful portrait that captures both the strength and softness of Black womanhood. Painted by Nigerian contemporary artist Bukola Orioye...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
Ronke-Enigma
Located in Ibadan, NG
Ronke-Enigma is a deeply evocative and visually striking oil painting that celebrates Black femininity, cultural memory, and the quiet strength of identity. Rendered in exquisite det...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Materials
Cotton Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
You May Also Like
Unmask -21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Portrait, Women, Africa, Pattern
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
At one point or the other, we try to hide away some inner truth about us as a result of what is known to each of us.
Nevertheless, irrespective of those reasons personal to you and...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Portrait Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic
Portrait of Adefunke
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
"Portrait of Adefunke" is an original painting created by Eyitayo Alagbe. Eyitayo created "Portrait of Adefunke" with Mixed Media on a Primed canvas of 20Wby 26H Inches
The Portrait...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Portrait Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Charcoal, Acrylic
$2,160 Sale Price
20% Off
Thoughtful Damsel - 21st Century, Figurative Portrait, Women, African, Beautiful
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure
Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria
This work is unique, this is not a print or other type of copy.
Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity.
Ladies a...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Portrait Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Charcoal, Acrylic
My Culture, My Inheritance
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Appearance defines what you are made of, being black, made of dressing, our way of approaching, respect, and how we react to things are what we inherit from our four fathers and we are happy and proud of who we are. Black is beautiful, I love black.
Shipping Procedure
Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria
This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy.
Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity (Issue by The Galley)
About Artist
Ajenifuja Abiodun...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic
$1,480 Sale Price
20% Off
Oju Loge (Beauty in Face)
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure
FREE Shipping Worldwide
Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria
This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy.
Accompanied by a Certificate of Authent...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Portrait Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
African Royale - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Africa Women
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Her beauty is natural, she exudes so much grace and perfection. She's a visual symphony of beauty and majesty. She's adorned.
She always graced her presence with her well-crafted fa...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Portrait Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic
More Ways To Browse
Painting With Oval Frame
African Crown
Masks Of Africa
Bukola Orioye
African Fertility Figure
Fertility Mask
Yoruba Mask
Homer Simpson
Robert Chevalier
Steve Huston Paintings
Steve Huston
Tamara De Lempicka
Vintage Bicycle Canvas
17th Century Paintings Peter Paul Rubens
Al Barnes Painting
Alligator Painting
Antique Oil Paintings Antique Pre 1900 Paintings
Belly Dance