Artist File

Artist File: Emmanuel Osahor Paints Immersive Garden Sanctuaries

Author: Diana Hamm

Updated on January 10, 2024

In our Artist File column, art advisor Diana Hamm of WK ART shares the artists that have caught her eye.

The Artist: Painting immersive outdoor scenes, Emmanuel Osahor creates sanctuaries for his viewers. He’s interested in illustrating the natural contrasts inherent in gardens while offering beautiful tableaus to engage in. Looking at gardens as places of refuge from daily life, he provides a break for himself, as much as for others, from the constant cycle of anxiety-inducing news, including recent events such as the death of George Floyd, the spike in anti-Asian hate and the ban on discussions of sexual orientation and gender identity in schools across Florida, all highlighting the continued oppression of marginalized communities. His work serves as an antidote to this — it’s a glimmer of hope, a moment of beauty. Emmanuel believes that beauty is necessary to surviving, and that surviving is the precursor to thriving.