In Cherry Aribisala’s paintings, Black subjects can simply be. Often portrayed in tender and intimate colors, the artist is familiar with her subjects like she is with the back of her own hand. Having perfected the use of bold colors and cheerful compositions, the ambiguous nature of Aribisala’s works centers around the exploration of escapism, vulnerability, mental well-being, and emotional landscapes. “Color is a big part of my creative process,” she says. “The color and emotions that can come from different color combinations are very interesting and they inspire my work.”
Her paintings Before You Wake Up From Your Dream (2023) and Portrait of a Mystery Man (2023) are examples of how the Nigerian-born artist imagines worlds where her subjects lounge, often in relaxed or resigned poses, against vibrant backgrounds as she explores diverse narratives in her works. Each painting invites viewers to meet the subjects where they are at, whether in a melancholic, cheery, or pensive state.
Alternating between painting, screen printing, lithography, and etching, Aribisala’s practice starts from a personal point in which she interrogates varied narratives within each body of work as she celebrates and expands the dialogue around contemporary life and culture. Through her expressive representations of human figures, emotions, and landscapes, she invites onlookers to critically engage with the art.
Florals take center stage in Cherry Aribisala’s paintings. With her use of flowers, she explores themes of order, mystery, and sanctuary. Like in Pensive (2023), Strange and New Lands (2023), and In Bloom (2022), the significance of the placement of flowers cannot be ignored. “Flowers can be such a beautiful thing, but at the same time, can be a bit suffocating. I use flowers and landscapes as a way to make my subjects seem more comfortable with themselves and where they’re at in the present moment,” says Aribisala.
Iyanuoluwa Adenle is a Nigerian art writer, essayist, and poet based in Lagos. She is currently the head writer at Omenai. Adenle has contributed to a number of art publications, including Tender Photo, Art News Africa, Pavillon 54, and Omenai.
