1296 | Stanley Onah I Original Oil Painting

£2,950.00

Original Oil and oil Pastel On Linen Lined Board, Tray Framed

Size: 100cm x 80cm x 4.8cm

Part of the “From Ancient Braids, To Contemporary Fades” Collection 2025

In 1296, Stanley Onah journeys deep into history to honour the Fulani people, custodians of a culture whose elegance and endurance span centuries. A woman stands poised and regal, her coiffure rising skyward like a crown of continuity. Around her, symbols of millet, cattle skulls, calabashes, and traditional huts form a visual lexicon of sustenance and belonging, evoking the pastoral richness of Fulani life.

Woven throughout the composition is a recurring helix motif, a subtle yet profound gesture toward alpha-keratin, the very protein that gives structure to human hair. In linking molecular truth to ancestral artistry, Onah collapses time itself: science and spirit entwined, ancient practice made newly resonant.

Within From Ancient Braids to Contemporary Fades, 1296 stands as an origin story, a visual hymn to lineage, resilience, and the timeless sophistication of African identity. It reminds us that every strand of hair carries both memory and meaning, binding the body to its history and the present to its past.

Original Oil and oil Pastel On Linen Lined Board, Tray Framed

Size: 100cm x 80cm x 4.8cm

Part of the “From Ancient Braids, To Contemporary Fades” Collection 2025

In 1296, Stanley Onah journeys deep into history to honour the Fulani people, custodians of a culture whose elegance and endurance span centuries. A woman stands poised and regal, her coiffure rising skyward like a crown of continuity. Around her, symbols of millet, cattle skulls, calabashes, and traditional huts form a visual lexicon of sustenance and belonging, evoking the pastoral richness of Fulani life.

Woven throughout the composition is a recurring helix motif, a subtle yet profound gesture toward alpha-keratin, the very protein that gives structure to human hair. In linking molecular truth to ancestral artistry, Onah collapses time itself: science and spirit entwined, ancient practice made newly resonant.

Within From Ancient Braids to Contemporary Fades, 1296 stands as an origin story, a visual hymn to lineage, resilience, and the timeless sophistication of African identity. It reminds us that every strand of hair carries both memory and meaning, binding the body to its history and the present to its past.

  • Native Londoner, Onah’s practice is influenced by his blended British/Nigerian heritage – exuding a strength and grit that speaks to London’s underground art scene. His use of colour and understanding of light oozes connections to the rich tapestry and texture of traditional Nigerian art. His portraits, often starkly back-lit or drenched in a ‘golden hour’ haze allow him to capture a pure emotive dialogue with the viewer.

    Onah’s early fascination with comic book artistry is prevalent in his works with a clear nod to artists such as Frank Miller & Dave Gibbons; this marriage of polar aesthetics have allowed Onah to shape an unmistakable visual identity evident in each painting.

    Onah’s latest series delves deep into the human psyche, reflecting the intricate emotional landscape experienced in the aftermath of trauma. Drawing from both personal and observed encounters, the artist invites viewers on a journey of contemplation, welcoming them in, to explore life’s profound questions and discover beauty within the depths of the human spirit.

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