The Art
I aim to craft absorbing narratives by elevating the everyday in acrylics.
Storytelling
“I paint moments, or very short stories… A seven second love affair in a Soho shoe shop, a date with someone who failed to see the irony of their endless chatter during the movie ’A Quiet Place’ or a chance encounter with Philippe Petit; the man who ‘danced’ on a tightrope strung between New York’s Twin Towers in 1974.
I paint instinctively and fast. In a way, my portraits are also about balance, with faces an abstract collection of fulcrums, wires and crescent moons. And while some reference Basquiat on seeing my work (I do love words — blame my advertising background), my own reference points include Miro, Freud, de Lempicka, and American artist Nick Cave. Maybe there is a touch of Patrick Caulfield in there too, though I hope my work is ‘like’ no other.
BTW, I shared lunch with Patrick may years ago — my girlfriend at the time knew his ex-wife. We spent an age bonding over a shared love for Karmann Ghia sports cars — Porsche stylings unfortunate to be wrapped around a slow VW engine — before discovering that neither of us could actually drive.”
Rob is represented by Galerie 94 in Switzerland.
Bio
Rob Omodiagbe is a Sydney-based, British-Nigerian born artist. He first picked up a paint brush in 2012, then put it down in 2013. He picked it up again in November 2023. He doesn’t intend on putting it down again.
Luxembourg Art Prize — Finalist (result pending), 2025
Featured in the book ‘100 Emerging Artworks 2025’, published by Arts to Hearts Project, New York
Arte Laguna Prize, Italy — Shanghai Exhibition selection, 2025
Knokke Art Fair, Belgium, 2025
The Other Art Prize, Australia, 2025
National Emerging Art Prize, Australia — Finalist, 2024
WhiteLock Art Centre Prize, USA — Excellence Award, 2024
Audrey Fine Art — Solo Show, 2024
Featured in ‘The A-Z of Contemporary Art’ — ABC Television, 2013
Gaffa Gallery — Solo Show, (sold out on opening night), 2013
Illusive
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‘…Ever the contrarian, he said he wanted and missed the ‘feeling’ of being in love, rather than any one person.’
30×40 inches, acrylic and oil pastel on canvas
SOLD
TriBeCa Lunch
National Emerging Art Prize finalist
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‘…Just across the West Side Highway, you’d trip over the Hollywood celebs who would never live in Hollywood.’
Canvas: 1200mm × 760mm
Cloud Dancer
Luxembourg Art Prize finalist
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‘‘…Bored one Sunday, she took herself to the movies. Starved of choice, she reluctantly settled on a documentary about Philippe Petit’s tightrope walk between New York’s Twin Towers in 1974. Petit was at the screening and the two spoke. She left for home inspired yet, given her acrophobia, visibly traumatised.’
48×60 inches, acrylic and oil pastel on canvas
Second Date, Last Date
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“…Perhaps I was nervous,’’ she said, talking and giggling as loudly as she must have done in the cinema that night. “I haven’t dated in twenty years.”
30×40 inches, acrylic and oil pastel on canvas
God’s Comic
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“…The jokester in the white tuxedo by night, a Queens-born advertising writer with a mild distain for his profession by day. A would-be psychologist and self-proclaimed wittiest man in the five boroughs.”
30×40 inches, acrylic and oil pastel on canvas
I Lost My Heart in A SoHo Shoe Shop
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“…You know those moments when you catch someone’s eye and they catch yours? Moments during which anything seems possible?” I nodded. “Well,” he continued, “I call them Seven Second Love Affairs. This was one of those”.
30×48 inches, acrylic and oil pastel on canvas
SOLD
“I Only Date Black Guys. LOL”
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“…She actually wrote that? Did you reply with an ALL CAPS essay about objectification and myth… Or do the dishonourable thing?”
35×48 inches, acrylic and oil pastel on canvas
A Bigger Man
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“…The dude was huge — 6' 8", 320lbs and he had a posse.”
30×40 inches, acrylic and oil pastel on canvas
SOLD
Olukemi Amalad BlackO
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‘Strength personified.’
30×40 inches, acrylic and oil pastel on canvas
Hot Flash
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She sipped her Manhattan, smiled, and then confessed, ‘’I’m not actually 48. I’m 53.”
Moments later, she reached into her handbag and pulled out an electric fan…30×40 inches, acrylic and oil pastel on canvas
The Ghost
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Lonely and bored, he encouraged the wrong woman to love him. Then took love for granted until she stopped.
30×40 inches, acrylic and oil pastel on canvas
Limited Edition Print: Cloud Dancer
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‘‘…Bored one Sunday, she took herself to the movies. Starved of choice, she reluctantly settled on a documentary about Philippe Petit’s tightrope walk between New York’s Twin Towers in 1974. Petit was at the screening and the two spoke. She left for home inspired yet, given her acrophobia, visibly traumatised.’
A2 limited edition print of 50 on quality archival paper
Limited Edition Print: Olukemi Amala
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‘Strength personified.’
Acrylic and oil pastel on canvas
A2 limited edition print of 50 on quality archival paper
Limited Edition Print: TriBeCa Lunch
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‘‘…Just across the West Side Highway, you’d trip over the Hollywood celebs who would never live in Hollywood.’
A2 limited edition print of 50 on quality archival paper
The Friend
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“…I wish I knew how to paint your laugh,” he said with a smile.
25×36 inches, acrylic and oil pastel on canvas
SOLD
AA
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“…I have this idea for a character. He’s a photographer, surfs, does yoga, speaks three languages… real energetic type. His name is Adrian Alston!”
30×40 inches, acrylic and oil pastel on canvas
Date Night
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‘…She paused for a second and then spoke. “Do you know the equation for ‘Disappointment’?” He shook his head, as he presumed he was required to do. “Expectation, divided by reality.”
35×48 inches, acrylic and oil pastel on canvas
SOLD
A Good Investment #2
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8.3×11.7 inches, digital ink, acrylic and oil pastel on canvas
SOLD
A Good Investment #3
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8.3×11.7 inches, digital ink, acrylic and oil pastel on canvas
A Good Investment #1tomized for you
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8.3×11.7 inches, digital ink, acrylic and oil pastel on canvas