Key Takeaways
Chris Ofili is a British painter known for incorporating elephant dung in his artworks. He is part of the Young British Artists group and has lived in Trinidad and Tobago since 2005.
Born in Manchester, England, Ofili studied at the Chelsea School of Art and the Royal College of Art in London, later spending time in Berlin which influenced his style.
Ofili’s work blends vibrant colors, mixed media, and controversial elements. His influences include Basquiat, Condo, and African art, with themes around race and identity.
His 1996 painting The Holy Virgin Mary, featuring elephant dung and provocative imagery, sparked public outrage and legal issues but solidified his place in the art world.
Ofili has exhibited at major venues like Tate Britain and The New Museum, winning the Turner Prize in 1998 and representing Britain at the Venice Biennale in 2003.
Christopher Ofili, CBE (born 10 October 1968), is a British painter renowned for incorporating elephant dung into his artworks. A prominent figure in the Young British Artists group, he won the Turner Prize in 1998. Ofili's work often features materials such as resin, beads, glitter, and oil paint, combined with elements like elephant dung and cut-outs from pornographic magazines. His distinctive style has been associated with punk art. Since 2005, he has lived and worked in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, after having also lived and worked in London and Brooklyn.
A Fusion of Art and Controversy
Christopher Ofili, born on October 10, 1968, in Manchester, England, is a celebrated British painter best known for incorporating elephant dung into his artwork. A prominent figure in the Young British Artists movement, Ofili won the Turner Prize in 1998. His work, which has been described as punk art, often includes elements like resin, beads, oil paint, glitter, and cut-outs from pornographic magazines.
After studying at the Chelsea School of Art and the Royal College of Art in London, Ofili spent time in Berlin on an exchange scholarship, which further influenced his artistic development. In 2000, he visited Trinidad for the first time and later moved there permanently in 2005. He currently resides in Port of Spain, where he also maintains a studio.
Ofili's work has gained global recognition, with a distinctive style that challenges traditional boundaries and often provokes debate. His bold use of unconventional materials and themes continues to leave a lasting impact on contemporary art.
Artistic Evolution and Recognition
Chris Ofili’s early career was shaped by the influence of renowned artists such as Jean-Michel Basquiat, Georg Baselitz, Philip Guston, and George Condo. His academic journey at the Chelsea College of Art and Royal College of Art in London, along with his friendship with Peter Doig, furthered his artistic development. Art critic Roberta Smith later noted Ofili’s connection to artists like Mickalene Thomas, Kerry James Marshall, and Robert Colescott, as well as earlier artists such as Bob Thompson and Beauford Delaney.
Ofili gained recognition in the art world through exhibitions at Charles Saatchi’s gallery and the iconic Sensation exhibition (1997). His membership in the Young British Artists group made him one of the few British artists of African and Caribbean descent to break through internationally. Ofili’s major solo exhibitions began in the early 1990s, including a notable show at Southampton City Art Gallery. He won the prestigious Turner Prize in 1998 and was invited to represent Britain at the 2003 Venice Biennale, where he collaborated with architect David Adjaye on the British Pavilion.
His career also saw pivotal moments like a 1992 scholarship to study cave paintings in Zimbabwe, which influenced his style. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Ofili focused on small watercolor portraits, often addressing race and sexuality with humor, referencing blaxploitation films and gangsta rap. His Harems series depicts one man surrounded by multiple women, further challenging stereotypes.
Ofili is known for his layered approach to painting, incorporating materials like resin, glitter, elephant dung, and paint. His technique transforms these materials into intricate collages, not simply using them as readymades, but creating meaning from their physical properties.
In addition to his painting, Ofili co-founded the Freeness Project, a short-lived initiative to showcase the work of minority ethnic artists in the UK. Relocating to Trinidad in 2005, Ofili was inspired by the local Jab Jab (blue devils) and the German-Russian Expressionist group, Der Blaue Reiter. This led to a series of blue-themed paintings exhibited at The New Museum in New York.
Ofili was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2017 for his contributions to art and was named one of the most influential Black Britons in the 2019 Powerlist. His works continue to make a significant impact, seen in collections like the Saatchi Collection, Tate Britain, and many prestigious galleries worldwide.
Exhibitions and Notable Shows
Chris Ofili's artwork gained significant exposure starting with the 1995 Brilliant! New Art from London exhibition at the Walker Art Center. Some of his notable solo exhibitions include shows at the Arts Club of Chicago (2010), Kestnergesellschaft in Hanover (2006), the Studio Museum in Harlem, New York (2005), and Southampton City Art Gallery (1998). In 2010, Tate Britain held a comprehensive retrospective of his work, and in 2014, The New Museum in New York presented his first major solo exhibition in the U.S., Chris Ofili: Night and Day.
Controversial Artwork: The Holy Virgin Mary
One of Ofili's most controversial works, The Holy Virgin Mary, sparked a public scandal when it was exhibited at the Brooklyn Museum of Art as part of the Sensation exhibition in 1999. The painting, depicting a Black Madonna surrounded by blaxploitation imagery, pornographic magazine cut-outs, and elephant dung, led to a lawsuit between the New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and the museum. Despite the outrage, the work became widely recognized, with the painting later being housed in notable collections like the Museum of Modern Art.
The Upper Room and the Tate Controversy
The Upper Room, an installation featuring 13 paintings of rhesus macaque monkeys, was acquired by Tate Gallery in 2005, creating controversy as Ofili was a Tate Trustee at the time. In 2006, the Charity Commission censured Tate for this acquisition, raising questions about conflicts of interest and the gallery's purchasing practices.
Art Sales and Market Impact
Chris Ofili's artwork has made significant waves in the art market. In 2010, his Orgena, a glittering portrait of a Black woman from his Turner Prize-winning exhibit at the Tate, sold for a record £1.8 million at Christie's in London, surpassing its high estimate of £1 million. In 2015, The Holy Virgin Mary, one of Ofili's most iconic paintings, was sold by collector David Walsh for £2.9 million at Christie's.
Selected Works
- Douen’s Dance (2007), painting
- Christmas Eve (Palms) (2007), painting
- Black Milky Way (2007), graphic art
- Afrotranslinear (2007), graphic art
- The Raising of Lazarus (2007), painting
- Belmont Guru (2006), graphic art
- Thirty Pieces of Silver (2006), painting
- The Kiss (2002), painting
- No Woman No Cry (1998), painting
- The Holy Virgin Mary (1996), painting
- Afro Muses: The Gardener (1995–2005), graphic art
FAQ
Who is Chris Ofili?
Chris Ofili is a British artist known for his distinctive artwork incorporating materials such as elephant dung, resin, beads, and oil paint. His work blends vibrant color with provocative imagery and is widely associated with the Young British Artists movement.
What is Ofili's artistic style?
Ofili's art is known for its bold use of mixed media and controversial elements, often including references to race, identity, and sexuality. He has drawn influence from artists like Basquiat, Condo, and African art, with themes that challenge stereotypes.
What is the significance of The Holy Virgin Mary?
The Holy Virgin Mary is one of Ofili's most famous and controversial works. It depicts the Virgin Mary with provocative imagery, including elephant dung and pornographic cut-outs, leading to a public scandal and legal issues when exhibited at the Brooklyn Museum in 1999. Despite the controversy, it is now considered a key piece in Ofili’s career.
Where has Ofili exhibited his work?
Ofili has held numerous solo exhibitions, including notable shows at the Tate Britain, The New Museum in New York, and the Arts Club of Chicago. His work has also been part of prominent group exhibitions such as Sensation (1997) and Brilliant! New Art from London (1995).
What other recognition has Ofili received?
Ofili won the Turner Prize in 1998 and was selected to represent Britain at the Venice Biennale in 2003. He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2017 for his services to art.
How has Ofili impacted the art market?
Ofili's work has had a significant impact on the art market. In 2010, his Orgena portrait sold for a record £1.8 million at Christie's, and in 2015, his The Holy Virgin Mary was sold for £2.9 million, further solidifying his place as an influential contemporary artist.
What are some of Ofili's notable works?
Some of Ofili's most famous works include The Holy Virgin Mary (1996), No Woman No Cry (1998), and The Upper Room (1999-2002). These pieces showcase his signature style, blending bold imagery, mixed media, and layers of cultural references.
Selena Mattei
