Chris Ofili was born in 1968 in Manchester and went on to graduate from the Royal College of Art in London. He was a leading member of the YBA (Young British Artists) group and was a Turner Prize-winner in 1998. He is a painter who is best known for his paintings incorporating elephant dung.
His works—vibrant, symbolic, and often mysterious—draw upon the landscapes and traditions of Trinidad, where he has lived since 2005. He creates paintings and collages which tackle themes around sexual and racial stereotypes, love, gender, and mortality. His paintings often incorporate collage and three-dimensional elements and are monumental in scale.
Ofili draws on a wide range of sources – including jazz and hip hop music, the Bible, and the works of artist and poet William Blake. Adopting simple, pared-down forms, his work continues to be just as expansive, dramatic and romantic – full of references to sensuality, sexuality and his ongoing exploration of Biblical themes.
He was recently commissioned to make a work for the Northern entrance and staircase of the Tate Britain. The show is called “Requiem”. Amongst other themes he pays tribute to a young artist he had recently met who died in the fire at Grenfell Towers in London alongside 71 others.
His work is held in many international collections and museums.
