ShoNobi {Samson Shofoluwe (20)}, was born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria, and moved to the UK when he was eleven years old. He lived and studied there for 8 years, where he completed his A-Level in Fine Arts in 2018 at the end of which he was awarded as one of the best painters his age in the country by why worshipful company of painter-stainers and then spent a year working on his art and building networks in central London. During this time, he was a part of My Runway Group’s pop-up exhibition called 21 Youth Street in Carnaby (2019). My Runway Group is an empowering organization that supports and uplifts young, black creatives. ShoNobi also appeared on a BBC mini-series, in 2019, that centered on the realities of how art can save the youth from street violence.   

By the end of the year, he moved to the United States to pursue his Bachelors of Fine Arts at Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, Michigan. He has since begun to work from his dorm studio as he explores new materials like, for example, oil on cardboard or wood. Working in traditional and digital mediums, he boasts a high level of competency in both fields. The medium matters very little, as he simply enjoys being able to bring life to a blank surface whilst endeavoring to push the limits of what he can create. One advice he’d give other artists is to get into the habit of appropriately pricing their services! “Undervaluing ourselves is our biggest downfall.” 

He finds inspiration in everything, from anime culture to contemporary artists like Arinze, Kehinde Wiley, and Nelson Makamo. Moving forward, Shonobi hopes to make a name for himself in the art scene before pursuing his Master’s degree in New York. His dream is to have his work recognizable in every corner of the world.

Find ShoNobi’s working portfolio here or on his social media. 

Instagram: @shonobi_art

Twitter: @sho_nobi