By Kodjovi Olympio
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This large textural abstract energetic artwork on canvas by Togolese artist Olympio is a unique mixed media painting with a raw and direct aesthetic, providing an unfiltered manifestation of the artist's soul. Its expressive brushstrokes and vibrant color palette and the incorporation of an additional piece of canvas to the surface add an extra dimension of texture and interest to this already captivating piece. Olympio's raw and direct approach to mixed media and collage on canvas creates a tactile experience that provides a captivating insight into the artist's creative vision. Bright, energetic marks encircle rough textures that are perfectly balanced by the peaceful compositions beneath, creating a sense of harmony and balance in this artwork.
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.
This large 72-inch high by 60-inch wide mixed media painting is signed by Olympio on the back of the canvas. The many layers in his work emphasize the texture and visceral nature of his canvases. The painting is wired and can be hung vertically or horizontally. 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...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Continental US - Mixed Media
MaterialsCanvas, Oil Pastel, Mixed Media, Acrylic
