b. 21 October 1983, Abengourou, Ivory Coast Lives and works between Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire and Brooklyn, New York Aboudia (Abdoulaye Diarrassouba) is a celebrated Ivorian contemporary artist who masterfully fuses graffiti-inspired street aesthetics with vivid storytelling in his “nouchi” style. Born in Abengourou, he discovered his passion for art early and, defying his family, left home at age 15 to study at the Centre Technique des Arts Appliqués in Bingerville and later graduated from the Institut des Arts in Abidjan. His breakthrough came amid the civil unrest in Abidjan around 2010–2011, when he remained in his studio, documenting the conflict through layered, frenetic canvases, an instinctive form of visual journalism rather than a war commentary. Aboudia’s work channels the voices of marginalized youth, particularly street children, by translating the raw energy of their wall drawings into richly textured paintings using collage, acrylic, oil stick, newspaper, and found materials. He considers himself their “megaphone,” drawing inspiration from their resilience, dreams, and struggles. His expressive, intensely colorful images (populated by childlike figures navigating urban chaos and trauma) are simultaneously haunting and hopeful, a study in both innocence and survival. Internationally recognized, Aboudia's work is included in prominent collections and has been exhibited in major venues from London to New York. He has been featured in the Saatchi Gallery’s landmark Pangaea exhibition and has achieved impressive auction results, with works selling for six-figure sums. Deeply committed to his community, he founded a cultural center in Bingerville, offering education and support to street children, reflecting his belief that art is a path toward hope and collective healing.