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.”
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. In November 2023 he started painting again, this time for good.
Volta — Art Basel, 2026
Artsper, 26 Artists to Watch in 2026
San Francisco Art Fair, 2026
Galerie94, Switzerland
Luxembourg Art Prize — Finalist, 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
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.”
Interested in a painting or want exhibition updates?
Paradox
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“My name felt like it belonged to someone else when the officer screamed it at my doorway… When the nurse tapped it onto her screen. Now, I’m slowed.”
Systems intercept distress with custody and chemicals, more often than with cultural care.
In the UK, black people are four times as likely to be sectioned in a mental health institution than white people. For First Nations people in Australia, the ratio is at least 2:1.36×48 inches, acrylic and oil pastel on canvas
Paradox (Detail)
Cloud Dancer
Luxembourg Art Prize, finalist
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‘‘I’ve known loss.“ she said, touching the locket that lay on her chest. “My dog.”
Her parents sat separately on the mantelpiece.47×60 inches, acrylic and oil pastel on canvas
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
Ashes
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‘I’ve known loss.“ she said, touching the locket that lay on her chest. “My dog.”
Her parents sat separately on the mantelpiece.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
Stumble
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‘Selfishly, he let the wrong woman love him. Then took love for granted, until it stopped.’
30×40 inches, acrylic and oil pastel on canvas
Hard Black
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‘Headhunted. Inspired. Fired.’
30×40 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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“… Queens-born advertising writer (with a mild distain for his profession) by day, jokester in a white tuxedo by night 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
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 #1
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8.3×11.7 inches, digital ink, acrylic and oil pastel on canvas
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