Cyril Emmanuel (X the Villain)

Name: ARTMAJEUR
Brand: ARTMAJEUR
Rating: 4.9 (12664 reviews)

Lagos, Nigeria •

Artist (Painting, Sculpture) •

Born 1995 •

I identify as a human, nothing more or less.

Cyril Oluwamuyiwa Emmanuel alias X the Villain, is a contemporary conceptual and performance artist based in Lagos, Nigeria. Drawing heavily from his Yoruba heritage and Egyptian ancestry, Cyril's work is deeply rooted in culture, reflected in his use of palm oil for paintings, and charcoal for sculptures.
Self-taught and inspired by Leonardo da Vinci, Tehching Hsieh, Yinka Shonibare, and Jean Michel Basquiat, Cyril developed a distinctive style that explores African identities, cultures, and global history. His artworks often depict society's outcasts, addressing themes such as identity crisis, discrimination, and mental health. As an advocate for human rights and environmental sustainability, he aims to create immersive and interactive experiences accessible to all, including individuals with disabilities.
In the realm of performance art, X the Villain’s work is a visceral exploration of societal fractures caused by discrimination, racism, and segregation. He immerses himself in the raw narratives of these issues, pushing the boundaries of performance art to provoke profound introspection. Through his performances, he aspires to dismantle preconceptions, instigate uncomfortable conversations, and inspire collective reckoning with the complexities of our shared humanity. Every gesture and movement is a deliberate act aimed at breaking down the barriers that divide us, urging audiences to confront the uncomfortable truths embedded in our social fabric.

Artist Value, Biography, Artist's studio:

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Published in ArtMajeur Magazine

All artworks by Cyril Emmanuel (X the Villain)

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Cyril Emmanuel (X the Villain)

"Yoruba Gothic"

Oil on Canvas | 35x29.9 in

$2,547.16

Prints available

Cyril Emmanuel (X the Villain)

"Obatala"

Sculpture - Wood | 9x7 in

$2,575.08

Cyril Emmanuel (X the Villain)

"At Long Last"

Acrylic on Canvas | 20x30 in

$4,829.01

Prints available

Cyril Emmanuel (X the Villain)

"Ebo Orita Meta"

Acrylic on Canvas | 35x40 in

$3,194.13

Prints available

Cyril Emmanuel (X the Villain)

"The Fight of his life"

Acrylic on Canvas | 28x35.5 in

$1,018.16

Prints available

Cyril Emmanuel (X the Villain)

"Ali my Guy"

Acrylic on Canvas | 40x30 in

$1,046.09

Prints available

Cyril Emmanuel (X the Villain)

"Fra Filippo Lippi"

Pastel on Paper | 9.8x11.8 in

$245.52

Prints available

Cyril Emmanuel (X the Villain)

"Keith Haring"

Pastel on Paper | 9.8x11.8 in

$245.52

Prints available

Cyril Emmanuel (X the Villain)

"Edouard Manet"

Pastel on Paper | 9.8x11.8 in

$245.52

Prints available

Cyril Emmanuel (X the Villain)

"Day dreams 001"

Acrylic on Canvas | 19.7x21.7 in

$309.52

Prints available

Cyril Emmanuel (X the Villain)

"Are you gay?"

Pastel on Canvas | 20x24 in

$1,367.25

Prints available

Cyril Emmanuel (X the Villain)

"Abija Wara bi Ekun 2"

Oil on Canvas | 30x40 in

$1,423.1

Prints available

Cyril Emmanuel (X the Villain)

"X-Chess; Egyptian theme"

Sculpture - Acrylic | 19x19 in

$3,194.13

Cyril Emmanuel (X the Villain)

"The Flames burn on"

Acrylic on Canvas | 35x30 in

$1,395.18

Prints available

Cyril Emmanuel (X the Villain)

"You smoke too much"

Pastel on Canvas | 24x20 in

$984.42

Prints available

Cyril Emmanuel (X the Villain)

"Georgia O’Keeffe"

Pastel on Paper | 9.8x11.8 in

$245.52

Prints available

Cyril Emmanuel (X the Villain)

"Wassily Kandinsky"

Pastel on Paper | 9.8x11.8 in

$1,292.78

Prints available

Cyril Emmanuel (X the Villain)

"Jean Baptiste Camille Corot"

Pastel on Paper | 9.8x11.8 in

$245.52

Prints available

Cyril Emmanuel (X the Villain)

"Lost in shifting sands"

Acrylic on Canvas | 16x20 in

$309.52

Prints available

Cyril Emmanuel (X the Villain)

"Bread and Ewa ‘goyin"

Acrylic on Canvas | 20x24 in

$1,018.16

Prints available

Cyril Emmanuel (X the Villain)

"Yo-yo the Joker"

Acrylic on Canvas | 30x30 in

$1,367.25

Prints available

Cyril Emmanuel (X the Villain)

"The weight of beauty"

Pastel on Canvas | 20x24 in

$1,018.16

Prints available

Cyril Emmanuel (X the Villain)

"A different Fight"

Acrylic on Canvas | 40x40 in

$1,662.81

Prints available

Cyril Emmanuel (X the Villain)

"The Three Graces"

Pastel on Canvas | 20x24 in

$1,046.09

Prints available

Cyril Emmanuel (X the Villain)

"Jacques Louis David"

Pastel on Paper | 9.8x11.8 in

$245.52

Prints available

Cyril Emmanuel (X the Villain)

"Frida Kahlo"

Pastel on Paper | 9.8x11.8 in

$1,292.78

Prints available

Cyril Emmanuel (X the Villain)

"Honoré Daumier"

Pastel on Paper | 9.8x11.8 in

$245.52

Prints available

Cyril Emmanuel (X the Villain)

"The Harlot of Babylon"

Acrylic on Canvas | 22.1x30.9 in

$5,585.36

Prints available

Cyril Emmanuel (X the Villain)

"X as Baba Fela"

Oil on Canvas | 35.2x28 in

$2,604.17

Prints available

Cyril Emmanuel (X the Villain)

"Gbemedebe 2"

Acrylic on Canvas | 32x35 in

$2,067.75

Prints available

Cyril Emmanuel (X the Villain)

"Get up"

Acrylic on Canvas | 40x30 in

$1,162.45

Prints available

Cyril Emmanuel (X the Villain)

"Oluwa saved me"

Acrylic on Canvas | 24x20 in

$610.9

Prints available

Cyril Emmanuel (X the Villain)

"Sandro Botticelli"

Pastel on Paper | 9.8x11.8 in

$245.52

Prints available

Cyril Emmanuel (X the Villain)

"Antonio Pollaiuolo"

Pastel on Paper | 9.8x11.8 in

$245.52

Prints available

Cyril Emmanuel (X the Villain)

"Pablo Picasso"

Pastel on Paper | 9.8x11.8 in

$1,292.78

Prints available

Cyril Emmanuel (X the Villain)

"Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres"

Pastel on Paper | 9.8x11.8 in

$245.52

Prints available

Recognition

Published in ArtMajeur Magazine
The Artist was highlighted in an article in ArtMajeur Magazine

Editor's Pick
The artist's works have been noticed by the editorial staff

Biography

Nationality: NIGERIA
Date of birth : 1995
Artistic domains:
Groups: Contemporary Nigerian Artists

Cyril Emmanuel (X the Villain) - The artist at work

Ongoing and Upcoming art events

No data available yet

Influences

Tehching Hsieh, Yinka Shonibare, Leonardo Da Vinci, Jean Michel Basquiat, Van Gogh

Education

2011 - 2019 Mechanical engineering Ile-Ife, Osun, Nigeria

Artist value certified

No data available yet

Achievements

Publications & Press

2025 ArtMajeur Magazine Cyril Emmanuel, aka X the Villain: An artist at the crossroads of traditions and futures

Activity on ArtMajeur

Last modification date : Apr 25, 2025 (Member since 2025)

Image views: 16,319

Artworks by Cyril Emmanuel (X the Villain) added to favorite collections: 83

Reviews and comments: 7

My favorite artworks: 208

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Latest News
All the latest news from contemporary artist Cyril Emmanuel (X the Villain)

Added Apr 5, 2025 Comments 2

X first Solo Exhibition

Stepping into my studio for the first time as an exhibitor, not just a creator, was a defining moment. My first solo exhibition brought the Judge, Jury, and Executioner collection into the light—a body of work that holds a mirror to humanity, demanding reflection, accountability, and action.

Each painting became a conversation, each brushstroke a confrontation. Visitors stood before history’s darkest truths, from war-torn landscapes to the weight of mob justice, witnessing the world through the eyes of X. Faces shifted—some in shock, some in deep thought, others unable to look away. That is the power of art: to make you feel, to make you question, to make you remember.

Opening my studio for this momentous occasion was more than just showcasing paintings; it was about creating a space for dialogue, for truth, for reckoning. And this is only the beginning.