ARTIST STATEMENT
I am fascinated by how dancers and movement artists express themselves. How they capture rhythm within their body and how they emit it back to the rest of the people on the proverbial dance floor. But what peaks my curiosity most is how the intimate knowledge of one’ s own body can remind you of the relationship with yours. I was raised in multicultural spaces that champion the righteous attitudes of dancehall queens, smooth soukous hips shakers, and the ultimate physical surrendering of spirit moving through you. And I’ve always seen that kinesthetic intelligence, and in particular, a sensual language that I apt to be an active listener to. And the best way I can let them know how well I’ve heard them is by materializing that energy into vivid and bold paintings.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Jeneca Onikoyi is an Afro Surrealist watercolor artist. She paints abstract melanated bodies that explore intimate expressions through sensual figural gestures. Her work is inspired by West African fabric wax print, Caribbean dancers, and Black literature and poetry.
© Jeneca Onikoyi