b. 1983, Abia State, Nigeria Lives and works in Lagos, Nigeria Kingsley Obasi is a Nigerian painter renowned for his distinctive figurative style that delves into the human condition and the complex layers of inner reality. He trained at the School of Art and Design at Yaba College of Technology, then worked as an art teacher in Lagos before transitioning to full-time studio practice. His portraits—often featuring exaggerated eyes—invoke the essence beneath public facades, blending historical and contemporary references to question traditional power dynamics in portraiture. Obasi's work has gained international recognition, with a solo exhibition at Signature African Art in London in 2019 and inclusion in the group show One's Guise in 2021. His pieces have also appeared at auction, with prices ranging from around USD 1,000 to over USD 14,500, including a ""Self Portrait"" sold at Christie’s Online in 2022. Obasi’s narratives are intensely human—his textured visual language captures emotion, identity, and social inner lives with both poignancy and conceptual insight.