Sans Titre 1 (2021) Painting by Rafiy Okefolahan

Rafiy Okefolahan, born in 1979 in Porto Novo, Benin, is a contemporary painter deeply influenced by the cultural vibrancy of Africa. Drawing upon his rich heritage, Rafiy embarked on his artistic journey under the guidance of Beninese artists before pursuing formal training at the National School of Arts in Dakar for two years. A versatile and largely self-taught artist, he adeptly navigates multiple artistic disciplines, including painting, drawing, and installations.

For Rafiy, color serves as a powerful medium of expression. His artworks are firmly rooted in reality, often reflecting contemporary events and societal issues. Additionally, Rafiy actively engages with local communities through educational initiatives in schools, further enriching his artistic practice.

In his paintings, Rafiy employs a partition of shapes and colors, populated with faces, symbols, and signs that convey "the noise of the world." Through his art, he endeavors to combat forgetfulness and address societal wounds, tackling socio-economic and identity-related themes such as population displacement, inequalities, and corruption.

Rafiy's mixed-media approach incorporates unconventional materials like coffee grounds, rust, raw pigments, Indian ink, and oil paint, drawing inspiration from the voodoo tradition. The dynamic interplay of color and texture on his canvases creates a visually arresting aesthetic, placing humans at the forefront of his narrative.

Rafiy's artistic prowess has garnered recognition, with notable exhibitions at prestigious venues like the Lazarew gallery. In 2014, he received his first public commission for the Cotonou Airport in Benin.

• Nationality: BENIN
• Date of birth : 1979
• Artistic domains: Represented by a Gallery,
• Groups: Contemporary Beninese Artists Artists presented by a gallery