Agbaka Oryiman

My name is Agbaka Oryiman, and I am a self-taught contemporary (VISIONARY) multidisciplinary artist and freelance photographer, born and living in Nigeria. I am skilled in painting and drawing, and I love to explore different styles and mediums of art. While I enjoy working in a variety of forms, I am traditionally a ballpoint pen artist. Using lines, shapes, and symbols, I create a fusion between the real and abstract worlds, allowing them to coexist in harmony.

I harness my creativity and skills across various forms of art, continuously pursuing my artistic journey. I specifically choose to work with ballpoint pens and ink because they are tools from ancient times, used for storytelling and truthfully documenting the world around us. Over the years, I’ve come to believe that art is a powerful means of self-expression. I don’t want to be confined to a single style or practice because doing so would make me feel like a prisoner. Art has set me free, and this freedom drives me to create even more expressively, exploring various techniques and styles.

My ideas come to me intuitively, and I focus on themes related to society, class, politics, and people in general. These themes allow me to engage with the world around me in a meaningful way. I draw inspiration from both past and present artists, and because of my similar artistic journey, I was even nicknamed “Picasso.” I’m deeply influenced by the works of Pablo Picasso, Caravaggio, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and Jean-Michel Basquiat.

One of my favourite quotes that encapsulates my philosophy is: “Art is the mirror that reflects the soul.” I believe art not only reflects the world around us but also the very essence of who we are as individuals.