Silas Onoja is a Nigerian contemporary artist born in Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria. He grew up as a kid who loves drawing with so much passion for the arts, and so, he went on to study Fine Art at the Benue State Polytechnic, Benue, Nigeria. His forte is creating realistic and lifelike paintings, which attract emotions and attention, and some of his paintings have been exhibited around the world.
Silas Onoja depicts Nigerians in different forms. A man smiling on the street, a child having a bath or a swim. His work transports you to that moment immediately, the same way a good book does. When you look at Silas Onoja’s art, you are reminded of simple moments that made you happy.
His medium of painting is oil on canvas and he is more interested in hyperrealism. Which is why his paintings are hyper-realistic.
“My environment inspires me every time. Seeing the daily activities of people in the society, the hustling and bustling, the good and the bad, the daily struggles of an average Nigerian, and people in general. The works of some great artists also inspire me, painters and sculptors within and outside the country. But most importantly, my environment is my greatest source of inspiration.” – Says, Silas.
“There are so many hyperrealism artists in Nigeria who use different mediums like pencils, pyrography, and sculpting, amongst others – I choose to use oil on canvas as my medium. Very few Nigerians use it. Also, I use oil on canvas because it’s time-consuming and challenging. I enjoy good challenges.” – says, Silas.
Each of Silas’ pieces not only tell a story but also evoke emotion. It makes you think and ask yourself a thousand questions about the meaning of freedom and the notion of enslavement in our society. He portrays struggle, peace, freedom, and happiness through his painting.
