Nairobi-born, Washington, DC-based illustrator Monica Obaga make bright, bold, and graphic illustrations that are inspired by African art. “I don’t consider myself a great artist, but when I started posting on the internet, you couldn’t run a search for African artists that weren’t from West Africa,” she admitted in an interview with VISI Magazine. “I think I just wanted to encourage young and talented African people to put their work out there, in progress, without fear.”
“There is so much out there now, so in turn, young and incredibly talented Africans inspire me today,” she shared.
Among the different mediums she mentioned as her inspiration are Kisii soapstone sculptures, Maasai beadwork, Kikuyu weaving, and Swahili lesos. “I love that something that could be called ‘modern minimal’ is a traditional craft of my people,” she explained.
Indeed her designs look like a blend of modernism and traditionalism, making for an eye-popping effect. “What I love most about being creative is that it’s the thing that can take a situation from hopeless to endless in possibility,” said Obaga. “Creativity is inherently human because we don’t know the future. We’re creating each moment as we live it.”
Prepare to be inspired.
