Arinze Stanley's Hyperrealist Portraits Challenge Perception at Magasins Généraux

Nigerian artist Arinze Stanley (b. 1993) presents his first exhibition in France at Magasins Généraux in Pantin, as part of the group show 'Simulacres', running until September 27, 2026. The exhibition features over twenty French and international artists across generations and mediums, aiming to blur the boundaries between reality and illusion. Stanley's hyperrealist drawings, created with pastels, colored pencils, and acrylic paint, are so lifelike they are often mistaken for photomontages or AI-generated images. His work 'MINDLESS' (2026) depicts a young woman whose face is enveloped by three black hands, symbolizing the weight of religion and traditions in Nigeria, particularly on women. Two other large-scale drawings by Stanley are on view: 'Fruits of Labour' (2022), evoking the resilience of Nigerian youth, and 'The Machine Man #14', denouncing the devastating effects of decades of oil exploitation in Nigeria. Stanley, who has over 330,000 Instagram followers, uses his art to challenge viewers' perception of reality. The exhibition is free and open to the public at Magasins Généraux, 1 rue de l'Ancien Canal, 93500 Pantin.