Kelvin Okafor
Kelvin Okafor (born 1 November 1985)[1] is a British artist of Nigerian descent. He lives in Tottenham, London, where he grew up.[2]
Okafor was educated at St Ignatius' College in Enfield, where at the age of 15 he began to hone his talent for drawing.[3] He did a Foundation Art & Design course at City and Guilds Art School (2005–06), and went on to study at Middlesex University (2006–09), graduating with a BA degree in Fine Art.[4] Awards he has won include the Catherine Petitgas Visitors Choice Prize, part of the National Open Art Competition.[5]
He draws very lifelike portraits of ordinary people and celebrities using pencil and charcoal.[6] Early pieces included portraits of Amy Winehouse, Mother Teresa, Lauryn Hill, Jamal, Nelson Mandela, Beyoncé, Daniel Craig, Corinne Bailey Rae, Rihanna and Tinie Tempah.[7]
References
- ↑ "How I became a photo-realistic artist – Kelvin Okafor", Vanguard (Nigeria), 27 December 2012.
- ↑ Jonathan Jones, "Kelvin Okafor's drawings may look like photographs but are they art?", The Guardian, 31 January 2013.
- ↑ Cindy Wider, "Interview With Kelvin Okafor: A Rising Star In The Art World", DrawPJ.com, 7 August 2013.
- ↑ "Kelvin Okafor", Albemerle Gallery.
- ↑ Dionne Grant, "Stroke Of Genius: Award-Winning Pencil Artist Kelvin Okafor", The Voice, 26 May 2014.
- ↑ "Precise pencil artist draws on awards success", Middlesex University, 28 January 2013.
- ↑ Kelvin Okafor, Middlesex University.
External links
- Kelvin Okafor Art, official website
- "Portraits of perfection: No, they're not photos, but pencil drawings by a young genius from a tough council estate", Daily Mail, 2 February 2013.
- "Kelvin Okafor pencil drawings amaze art critics", BBC News, 28 January 2013.
- "Artist Kelvin Okafor Finds Success With Photo-Realism Drawings Of Celebrities", Huffington Post, 2 February 2013,