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Key Takeaways

Lynette Yiadom-Boakye is a British painter of Ghanaian heritage, known for her contemporary art.
Her portraits often feature Black figures, challenging traditional narratives.
She uses a dark palette with muted earthy tones and occasional vibrant hues.
Her work has been exhibited globally, including at the Carnegie Museum of Art.
Yiadom-Boakye’s art sparks important conversations about BIPOC representation.

Lynette Yiadom-Boakye (b. 1977) is a British painter and writer of Ghanaian heritage, renowned for her portraits of imaginary subjects or those inspired by found objects, painted in muted tones. Her work has played a key role in the revival of painting the Black figure and is frequently showcased in solo exhibitions.

Roots and Artistic Journey

Lynette Yiadom-Boakye (b. 1977) is a British artist and writer of Ghanaian descent, celebrated for her evocative portraits of imagined individuals or figures inspired by found objects. Her distinctive use of muted tones and focus on the Black figure has made her a pivotal figure in modern art, revitalizing the portrayal of Black subjects in painting. Yiadom-Boakye’s work is widely exhibited, often in solo shows, affirming her prominence in the art world.

Born and raised in London, where she still resides and creates, Yiadom-Boakye comes from a family with deep ties to Ghana. Her parents emigrated to the UK in the 1960s and worked as nurses in the National Health Service. Reflecting on her childhood, she describes herself as a well-behaved student who thrived in imaginative spaces, often using her creativity as a form of escapism.

Initially considering a career as an optician, she took an introductory art course in high school that shifted her ambitions entirely toward the arts. She began her studies at Central St. Martins College of Art and Design in 1996 but found it unsatisfactory and transferred to Falmouth College of Art, where she earned her undergraduate degree in 2000. She later completed a Master’s degree at the Royal Academy Schools in 2003. It was during her graduate studies that she refined her approach to art, focusing on the figure itself as the core narrative, a decision that became a defining feature of her style.

After finishing her studies, Yiadom-Boakye worked various jobs to support herself until 2006, when she received the Arts Foundation Fellowship for painting. This recognition allowed her to dedicate herself fully to her craft. In 2010, her talent caught the attention of Okwui Enwezor, who, along with curator Naomi Beckwith, documented her exhibition at the Studio Museum in Harlem.

Her work has received numerous accolades, including a Turner Prize nomination in 2013. Beyond her painting, Yiadom-Boakye is also an influential educator, serving as a visiting tutor in the Master of Fine Arts program at the Ruskin School of Art, Oxford University. She has been widely acknowledged for her influence, being featured on the 2019 Powerlist and ranking among the top 10 most influential individuals of African or African Caribbean heritage in the UK in 2020.

Through her unique vision and dedication to her craft, Lynette Yiadom-Boakye has established herself as one of the most impactful voices in contemporary art.

Lynette Yiadom-Boakye: Timeless Portraits of the Imaginary

Yiadom-Boakye's art primarily focuses on painted portraits of fictional Black subjects. Her work is rooted in figurative painting, characterized by earthy and subdued colors. Her distinctively dark palette conveys a sense of calm and timelessness, inviting viewers to engage deeply with her subjects. These imagined individuals are often depicted in quiet moments—reading, lounging, or resting—with their contemplative expressions and relaxed postures making them relatable to a wide audience.

One defining feature of her work is the deliberate avoidance of temporal markers. By omitting details like footwear, which could suggest a specific era, she creates portraits that feel untethered to any particular time. Her subjects, frequently of African descent, are set against mysterious, monochromatic backgrounds, which heighten the ethereal quality of her art. Critics often compare her atmospheric settings to the works of old masters such as Velázquez and Degas.

In 2017, Yiadom-Boakye debuted a noticeable shift in her style with her exhibition In Lieu of a Louder Love. Here, she introduced a warmer and more dynamic color palette. Her subjects were framed with livelier elements, such as checkered floors, vibrant headwraps, and bright, multicolored backdrops. This evolution added a fresh layer of complexity to her already rich body of work.

While her portraits typically feature a single figure, they are often displayed in groups, resembling family arrangements. Through her depictions, Yiadom-Boakye explores the psychological and political dimensions of painting, presenting her characters as entities beyond time and space. She emphasizes their ambiguity, remarking, “People ask me, ‘Who are they, where are they?’ What they should be asking is ‘What are they?’”

Yiadom-Boakye draws inspiration from a variety of sources, including found objects, personal memories, literature, and the history of painting. Music also plays a significant role in her creative process, with artists like Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and Nick Drake influencing her work. Contemporary artists such as Lisa Yuskavage, Chris Ofili, and Isaac Julien have also left an imprint on her artistic vision.

Her significant impact on the art world was highlighted by the Tate Museum’s extensive introduction to her work, showcased in a major exhibition held from December 2020 to May 2021.

Through her captivating portraits and unique artistic voice, Yiadom-Boakye continues to redefine figurative painting, offering viewers timeless reflections of humanity.

A Fusion of Painting and Writing

Yiadom-Boakye is distinctive among artists, as she identifies as much with writing as she does with painting. Her catalogues frequently feature her short stories and poetic prose, revealing another dimension of her creativity.

Her literary works include excerpts from a detective novel titled An Officer of the Law, where animals take on the roles of characters, and various reflective writings on themes such as criminality. In her poem Something Close to a Confession, she offers an evocative blend of imagery and emotion:

"Dead but for the life in me,
Where Black rivers run in the Bath,
Having eaten the Activist and her Cause
And alerted the Ugly to all their Flaws
I Bask where God cannot see me.
On Vacant lot, my eyes make water
And draw the blinds against a Slaughter."

Yiadom-Boakye describes her writing as complementary to her painting, stating that she "writes what she does not paint and paints what she does not write." Even the titles of her paintings carry a poetic resonance, bridging her dual artistic pursuits.

Recognition in the Art Market

Yiadom-Boakye’s work has achieved remarkable acclaim in the art market. In 2019, her life-size portrait Leave A Brick Under The Maple (2015) sold for approximately $1 million at a Phillips auction in London. Similarly, her painting Highpower was sold at Christie's during the 2022 20th/21st Century Frieze Week auction for £1,482,000, far exceeding its initial estimate of £600,000.

As a Subject of Artistic Tributes

The influence of Yiadom-Boakye extends beyond her own work, inspiring other artists. In 2017, Kehinde Wiley painted her portrait, titled Portrait of Lynette Yiadom-Boakye, Jacob Morland of Capplethwaite, which is part of the collection at the Yale Center for British Art in New Haven, Connecticut. Additionally, a photographic portrait of her by Sal Idriss is housed in the National Portrait Gallery in London.

Her work has also inspired poetry, such as Poem After an Iteration of a Painting by Lynette Yiadom-Boakye, Destroyed by the Artist Herself by Ama Codjoe, which was published in the Massachusetts Review in December 2019.

Key Solo Exhibitions

Lynette Yiadom-Boakye has showcased her work through an impressive series of solo exhibitions across major museums and galleries worldwide. Highlights include:

Any Number of Preoccupations (2010), Studio Museum in Harlem, New York
Verses After Dusk (2015), Serpentine Galleries, London
A Passion To A Principle (2016), Kunsthalle Basel, Switzerland
Under-Song For a Cipher (2017), New Museum, New York
Fly In League With The Night (2022-2023), Tate Britain, London

Participation in Group Exhibitions

Yiadom-Boakye has contributed to numerous prestigious group shows, including:

The 55th Venice Biennale (2013)
Sharjah Biennial (2015)
The 58th Venice Biennale (2019)
Afro-Atlantic Histories (2021-2022)

Her work is also part of prominent museum collections in the United States, such as the Carnegie Museum of Art and Pérez Art Museum Miami, where her painting King for an Hour was displayed in a long-term exhibition in 2023.

Recognition and Awards

Yiadom-Boakye’s talent has been widely celebrated with numerous awards, including:

The Arts Foundation Fellowship for Painting (2006)
Pinchuk Foundation Future Generation Prize (2012)
Next Generation Prize from the New Museum of Contemporary Art (2013)
South Bank Sky Arts Award for Visual Art (2016)
Carnegie Prize at the 57th Carnegie International (2018)

She was also shortlisted for the Turner Prize in 2013, further solidifying her reputation as one of the leading contemporary artists.

Significant Works in Public Collections
Yiadom-Boakye’s paintings are featured in many prestigious collections worldwide, including:

Nous étions (2007), Studio Museum in Harlem, New York
The Fondness (2010), Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, Missouri
Tambourine (2010), Nasher Museum of Art, Durham, North Carolina
Skylark (2010), Museum of Modern Art, New York
King for an Hour (2011), Pérez Art Museum Miami
Bracken or Moss (2012), Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago
10pm Saturday (2012), Tate, London
Siskin (2012), Victoria and Albert Museum, London
A Few For the Many (2013), Los Angeles County Museum of Art
Appreciation of the Inches (2013), San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
Observer of Spring (2013), Museum of Modern Art, Warsaw
Trapsprung (2013), Seattle Art Museum
Womanology 12 (2014), National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.
A Culmination (2016), Kunstmuseum Basel, Switzerland
8am Cadiz (2017), Baltimore Museum of Art
Medicine at Playtime (2017), Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles
The Much-Vaunted Air (2017), Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston
No Need of Speech (2018), Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh
Repose 3 (2018), Dallas Museum of Art
Shelves for Dynamite (2018), Minneapolis Institute of Art

FAQ

Who is Lynette Yiadom-Boakye?

Lynette Yiadom-Boakye is a British painter and writer from Ghana. She is known for her captivating portraits that challenge our views. Her unique approach to portraiture sets her apart in the art world.

What is Lynette Yiadom-Boakye's background and how has it influenced her artistic vision?

Lynette grew up with both Ghanaian and British cultures. This multicultural background deeply shaped her art. Her work shows a deep understanding of her heritage and contemporary art.

How has Lynette Yiadom-Boakye's artistic vision evolved over time?

Lynette's vision has grown, pushing against traditional portraiture. She focuses on the painting process and imaginary subjects. This makes her work both captivating and thought-provoking.

What is Lynette Yiadom-Boakye's signature portrait style?

Her portraits use muted colors and imaginary subjects. These elements make her portraits enigmatic. They encourage viewers to deeply engage with her work.

How has Lynette Yiadom-Boakye's educational background influenced her artistic formation?

Her education at Central St. Martins and the Royal Academy Schools was key. The British art education system helped shape her skills and vision. It emphasized both technical skill and creative expression.

How does Lynette Yiadom-Boakye's work contribute to the renaissance of Black figure painting?

Her work is part of the Black figure painting renaissance. It challenges and expands traditional Black figure representations. By portraying Black subjects in a personal yet universal way, she makes art more inclusive.

Where has Lynette Yiadom-Boakye's work been exhibited?

Her work has been shown in many exhibitions and galleries. These have solidified her reputation as a leading artist. Her paintings are featured in prominent galleries and museums.

What are the artistic influences and inspirations that shape Lynette Yiadom-Boakye's work?

Her work draws from a wide range of artistic traditions. This diversity makes her art both rooted in history and forward-looking. She bridges different artistic eras with her work.

How does Lynette Yiadom-Boakye's literary contributions connect to her visual art practice?

Her writing is closely tied to her visual art. The connection between poetry and visual art in her work shows her creativity. It highlights how these two forms enrich each other.

What is Lynette Yiadom-Boakye's impact on the contemporary art scene?

As a British artist of Ghanaian heritage, Lynette has a unique perspective. Her work challenges traditional representations and makes art more diverse. She inspires many artists and art lovers.

How has Lynette Yiadom-Boakye's work been critically received?

Her work has received widespread acclaim and recognition. Awards and positive responses from the art world acknowledge her contributions. This recognition solidifies her status as a leading artist.

Where can Lynette Yiadom-Boakye's work be found in major art collections and museums?

Her paintings are in the permanent collections of several museums. This ensures her legacy and makes her work accessible. Being included in museum collections is a significant milestone in her career.

How is Lynette Yiadom-Boakye's innovative approach to portraiture shaping the future of the genre?

Her use of imaginary subjects, muted colors, and focus on painting are changing portraiture. As a pioneer, her work reflects the present and looks to the future. It ensures portrait art remains vibrant and evolving.

Source Links

Selena Mattei | ArtMajeur Magazine

Artist portraits Lynette Yiadom-Boakye British painter writer Ghanaian heritage portraits imaginary subjects muted colours

Lynette Yiadom-Boakye: Shaping the Future of Contemporary Portraiture