The Celebrant
Mixed Media on Canvas
70cm x 100cm (28in x 40in)
2026
Price upon request.
“The Celebrant” captures a widely acknowledge symbol of African celebration – dancing. Four women dressed in their traditional garb move to a song that makes them express their joy.
The composition captures the freeze-frame moment of this occasion. The viewer can only assume that the celebrant herself is in red, although she is joined by equally happy participants. This collective and shared euphoria encapsulates what African community is about.
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I use oil paints to depict the faces of the women in this portrait.
To depict the gele (African head dress) I use locally sourced African print fabrics. I use a formwork of board to create depth and structure, then I cut them into shapes before wrapping each wedge with fabric. I stick everything down with a combination of UHU and PVA glue.
Each painting arrives unframed.
I suggest looking into floating frames (L shaped) which allow the painting to sit neatly flush with the frame. Additionally, the gele head dress still emerges from the bounds of the rectangular shape, creating a larger than life feel.
In usual circumstances, please allow up to 4 weeks for the work to arrive from the day of purchase. Artworks are shipped sooner and typically arrive well within this timeframe.
For more on returns, please view my Returns Policy.
For more information, please contact me.
The Gele Painter 