Osi Audu


Osi Audu was born in Nigeria in 1956 and studied at the University of Ife (Nigeria), where he received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with first class honors in 1980. He went on to study at the University of Georgia in Athens (USA) and earned his Master of Fine Arts degree in Osi Audu and Osi Audu in 1984. In 1994, he earned a postgraduate certificate in education from the University of Kent in Canterbury (UK).

Osi Audu maintains a visual language of geometric shapes and a palette of monochromatic blacks, whites, greys and primary colors to explore the tangible and intangible aspects of the self and self-consciousness. His techniques draw from ancient Yoruba philosophies and modern Western approaches, such as the idea that objects can contain, channel and transform natural forces. Following the Yoruba concept of Ori Inu ("the inner head"), Audu's works - many of them displayed as a series of "self-portraits" - draw our attention to the artist's focus on the head as a signifier of consciousness and as an object of self and self-knowing.

Audu's work has shown in solo and group exhibitions worldwide, including Germany, Nigeria, Japan, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States. He has shown at prestigious institutions such as Iwalewa-Haus (1995), the British Museum (2003), the Smithsonian Institute's National Museum of African Art (2006) and the Museo Di Palazzo Grimani during the Venice Biennale (2015). In 2018, he was the recipient of the Pollock-Krasner Foundation grant. In addition to his longstanding artistic practice, Audu also works as a curator, most recently organizing the traveling group exhibition "Abstract Minded: Works by Six Contemporary African Artists" that showed at the N'Namdi Center for Contemporary Art in Detroit, the Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art in New York and the August Wilson Center in Pittsburgh.

His work is in numerous private and public collections including the Smithsonian Institute's National Museum of African Art, the British Museum, the Horniman Museum, the Newark Museum, the Hood Museum, Iwalewa-Haus and Nigeria's National Gallery. Osi Audu currently resides in New York.


Available Works


Osi Audu: Masked Head (Calm)

Masked Head (Calm)

Osi Audu

2022

Pastel and yarn on paper (mounted on canvas)

54 x 60 in | 137.2 x 152.4 cm

Osi Audu: Masked Head (Invincible)

Masked Head (Invincible)

Osi Audu

2022

Pastel and yarn on paper (mounted on canvas)

54 x 60 in | 137.2 x 152.4 cm

Osi Audu: Masked Head (Happy)

Masked Head (Happy)

Osi Audu

2022

Pastel and yarn on paper (mounted on canvas)

46 x 48 in | 116.8 x 121.9 cm

Osi Audu: Masked Head (Fertility)

Masked Head (Fertility)

Osi Audu

2022

Pastel and yarn on paper (mounted on canvas)

22 x 30 1/2 in | 56 x 77.5 cm

Osi Audu: Masked Head (Wisdom)

Masked Head (Wisdom)

Osi Audu

2022

Pastel and yarn on paper (mounted on canvas)

22 x 30 1/4 in | 56 x 76.8 cm

Osi Audu: Masked Head (Strong)

Masked Head (Strong)

Osi Audu

2022

Pastel and yarn on paper (mounted on canvas)

15 x 15 in | 38.1 x 38.1 cm

Osi Audu: Self-Portrait (Brave)

Self-Portrait (Brave)

Osi Audu

2022

Spray-painted steel

16 x 16 1/4 x 14 in | 40.6 x 41.3 x 35.6 cm

Osi Audu: Self-Portrait (Happy)

Self-Portrait (Happy)

Osi Audu

2022

Spray-painted steel

15 x 13 x 12 1/2 in | 38.1 x 33 x 31.8 cm

Osi Audu: Self-Portrait (Excited)

Self-Portrait (Excited)

Osi Audu

2022

Spray-painted steel

15 x 16 x 13 3/4 in | 38.1 x 40.6 x 34.9 cm

Osi Audu: Self-Portrait, with a Yoruba Hairstyle

Self-Portrait, with a Yoruba Hairstyle

Osi Audu

2021

Spray-painted steel

19 1/2 x 11 1/2 x 10 1/2 in | 48.3 x 27.9 x 25.4 cm

Osi Audu: Self-Portrait, Red Cap Chief I

Self-Portrait, Red Cap Chief I

Osi Audu

2021

Spray-painted steel

15 x 14 x 11 1/2 in | 38.1 x 35.6 x 29.2 cm

Osi Audu: Self-Portrait, after an Egungun Headdress

Self-Portrait, after an Egungun Headdress

Osi Audu

2021

Spray-painted steel

13 x 17 x 10 1/2 in | 33 x 43.2 x 26.7 cm

Osi Audu: Self-Portrait, Red Cap Chief II

Self-Portrait, Red Cap Chief II

Osi Audu

2021

Spray-painted steel

12 1/2 x 15 x 11 1/2 in | 31.8 x 38.1 x 29.2 cm

Osi Audu: The Night is Bright with Stars

The Night is Bright with Stars

Osi Audu

1998

Pastel on paper

22 x 30 in | 56 x 76.2 cm

Osi Audu: Tubular Head

Tubular Head

Osi Audu

1998

Pastel on paper

30 x 22 in | 76.2 x 56 cm

Osi Audu: Self-Portrait after Dogon Bird Mask

Self-Portrait after Dogon Bird Mask

Osi Audu

2018

Acrylic on canvas

11 x 15 in | 28 x 38 cm

Osi Audu: Self-Portrait after Dogon Bird Mask

Self-Portrait after Dogon Bird Mask

Osi Audu

2018

Acrylic on canvas

22 x 31 in | 56 x 78.8 cm

Osi Audu: Self-Portrait after Gelede Headdress

Self-Portrait after Gelede Headdress

Osi Audu

2018

Acrylic on canvas

22 x 31 in | 56 x 78.8 cm

Osi Audu: Self-Portrait with Egungun Hairstyle

Self-Portrait with Egungun Hairstyle

Osi Audu

2018

Graphite and pastel on paper (mounted on canvas)

22 x 31 in | 56 x 78.8 cm

Osi Audu: Self-Portrait, The Bearded II

Self-Portrait, The Bearded II

Osi Audu

2018

Graphite and pastel on paper (mounted on canvas)

22 x 31 in | 56 x 78.8 cm

Osi Audu: Self-Portrait, Yoruba Head

Self-Portrait, Yoruba Head

Osi Audu

2018

Acrylic on canvas

22 x 31 in | 56 x 78.8 cm

Osi Audu: Double Self-Portrait, after Ere Ibeji Twins

Double Self-Portrait, after Ere Ibeji Twins

Osi Audu

2019

Graphite and pastel on paper (mounted on canvas)

15 x 30 in | 38 x 76.2 cm

Osi Audu: Self-Portrait after BaKuba Mask

Self-Portrait after BaKuba Mask

Osi Audu

2019

Acrylic on canvas

15 x 22 in | 38 x 56 cm

Osi Audu: Self-Portrait after Dogon Bird Mask

Self-Portrait after Dogon Bird Mask

Osi Audu

2019

Graphite and pastel on paper (mounted on canvas)

11 x 15 in | 28 x 38 cm

Osi Audu: Self-Portrait after Osanyin

Self-Portrait after Osanyin

Osi Audu

2019

Acrylic on canvas

15 x 22 in | 38 x 56 cm

Osi Audu: Self-Portrait after Tabwa Head

Self-Portrait after Tabwa Head

Osi Audu

2019

Graphite and pastel on paper (mounted on canvas)

11 x 15 in | 28 x 38 cm

Osi Audu: Self-Portrait after Tabwa Head

Self-Portrait after Tabwa Head

Osi Audu

2019

Acrylic on canvas

12 x 22 in | 30.5 x 56 cm

Osi Audu: Self-Portrait, Untitled

Self-Portrait, Untitled

Osi Audu

2019

Graphite and pastel on paper (mounted on canvas)

11 x 15 in | 28 x 38 cm

Osi Audu: Self-Portrait with Egungun Hairstyle

Self-Portrait with Egungun Hairstyle

Osi Audu

2019

Acrylic on canvas

48 x 60 in | 122 x 152.5 cm

Osi Audu: Self-Portrait after Egungun Headdress

Self-Portrait after Egungun Headdress

Osi Audu

2019

Graphite and pastel on paper (mounted on canvas)

15 x 22 in | 38 x 56 cm

Osi Audu: Self-Portrait with Yoruba Hairstyle

Self-Portrait with Yoruba Hairstyle

Osi Audu

2019

Acrylic on canvas

48 x 60 in | 122 x 152.5 cm

Osi Audu: Self-Portrait, The Bearded

Self-Portrait, The Bearded

Osi Audu

2019

Acrylic on canvas

11 x 15 in | 28 x 38 cm

Osi Audu: The Night is Bright with Stars I

The Night is Bright with Stars I

Osi Audu

2019

Pastel on paper

22 x 30 in | 56 x 76.2 cm

Osi Audu: The Night is Bright with Stars II

The Night is Bright with Stars II

Osi Audu

2019

Pastel on paper (mounted on canvas)

11 x 15 in | 28 x 38 cm

Osi Audu: The Night is Bright with Stars III

The Night is Bright with Stars III

Osi Audu

2019

Pastel on paper (mounted on canvas)

22 x 31 in | 56 x 78.8 cm

Osi Audu: Self-Portrait, Happy Dance I

Self-Portrait, Happy Dance I

Osi Audu

2020

Acrylic on canvas

11 x 15 in | 28 x 38 cm

Osi Audu: Self-Portrait, Happy Dance II

Self-Portrait, Happy Dance II

Osi Audu

2020

Acrylic on canvas

11 x 15 in | 28 x 38 cm


Exhibitions & Art Fairs

Intimations

Intimations

Osi Audu, Larry Bonćhaka, Kevin Demery, Mbali Dhlamini, Mario Joyce, Sekai Machache, Nnenna Okore, Owanto, Ghizlane Sahli

30 Nov - 23 Dec 2023

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Art Cologne 2022

Art Cologne

Osi Audu, Mario Moore

16 - 20 November 2022

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Cologne Fine Art & Design 2021

Cologne Fine Art & Design

Tega Akpokona, Osi Audu, Kevin Demery, Mbali Dhlamini, Ghizlane Sahli

17 - 21 November 2021

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1-54 London 2021

1-54 London

Osi Audu, Adelaide Damoah, Mbali Dhlamini, Sekai Machache

14 - 17 October 2021

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Accrochage 2020

Accrochage

Osi Audu, Kevin Demery, Nnenna Okore, Ghizlane Sahli, Bambo Sibiya

7 Jan - 8 Feb 2020

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Cologne Fine Art & Design 2019

Cologne Fine Art & Design

Osi Audu, Nnenna Okore, Ghizlane Sahli, Bambo Sibiya, Adejoke Tugbiyele

20 - 24 November 2019

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AKAA Paris 2019

AKAA Paris

Osi Audu

8 - 11 November 2019

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1-54 London 2019

1-54 London

Osi Audu, Nnenna Okore

2 - 6 October 2019

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Osi Audu: Wetin Be Dis

Wetin Be Dis

Osi Audu

19 Sep - 26 Oct 2019

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