Kip Omolade's Hyperrealistic Chrome Portraits Dazzle with Abstract Reflections

Kip Omolade's hyperrealistic oil paintings depict Black faces coated in chrome, set against vibrant monochrome backgrounds. The artist, who formerly tagged as "Kace" in New York City's subway graffiti scene during the 1980s and 1990s, incorporates spray-painted elements into his work. His portraits, often featuring mask-like faces with detailed eyelashes, are presented from various angles, with reflections that abstractly hint at blue skies, sun, and local color. A notable exception is the monumental "African History," which contains numerous additional faces inspired by carved sculptures from The Metropolitan Museum of Art's exhibition "The African Origin of Civilization" and other art historical examples. Omolade's works include pieces such as "Diovadiova Chrome Karyn XXII," "Diovadiova Chrome Sasha III," "Diovadiova Chrome Kitty Cash XVII (Pinkitty)," "Diovadiova Chrome Karyn XXIV," "Diovadiova Chrome Sasha I," and "Luxury Graffiti Kitty New Hope." The artist shares his work on Instagram. The article was published on Colossal, an independent arts publication that supports its content through memberships starting at $7 per month.