OOA Gallery Presents "Talking Walls" by Onyis Martin

OOA Gallery is pleased to announce the opening of “Talking Walls,” a solo exhibition by the acclaimed Kenyan artist Onyis Martin, curated by Sabo Kpade.

The show, which includes both paintings and works on paper, will open on August 10 at 8:00 PM with a cava reception and will be open to the public until September 8.

This exhibition reaffirms OOA Gallery’s commitment to contemporary African art in Catalonia, highlighting the cultural richness and diversity of the African continent. Over the years, OOA Gallery has set a significant precedent in promoting contemporary African artists, enriching the local and international art scene with new perspectives and narratives.

Onyis Martin, born in 1987 in Nairobi, Kenya, is one of the most prominent contemporary painters in East Africa. In “Talking Walls,” his first solo exhibition in Spain, Martin presents a series of works that explore image creation and the role of art in society. His work, influenced by his experiences in the metropolis of Nairobi, challenges art conventions through painting, sculpture, and conceptual art.

The exhibition includes ten paintings and nine works on paper that combine “décollage” techniques, a method popularized in France in the 1960s, with the innovation of “transdecollage.” This technique reformulates the historical context of décollage and lettrism, shifting it from its origins in 20th-century Central Europe to the contemporary postcolonial city of East Africa.

Martin’s works feature a variety of techniques, including paint pouring, inscriptions, numerical systems, reduced images, surface scraping and polishing, creating a fusion between collage, painting, and drawing. His works investigate notions of consumerism, African spirituality, and capitalism, presenting painting and décollage as tools for social studies and metropolitan consciousness.

Additionally, OOA Gallery will publish an e-catalog accompanying the exhibition, including an interview with Onyis Martin conducted by curator Sabo Kpade and a foreword by the gallery’s founder, Sorella Acosta.

The exhibition “Talking Walls” by Onyis Martin is a unique opportunity to experience the work of an artist who redefines the boundaries of contemporary art. Don’t miss it!