Graphic designer and illustrator Monica Obaga is directly inspired by African art and folklore, like Kisii soapstone sculptures, Maasai beadwork, and Kikuyu weaving to name a few.
The Nairobi-born, Washington DC-based artist creates bold and graphic illustrations, sticking to a bright, distinctive color palette. “I don’t consider myself a great artist, but when I started posting on the internet, you couldn’t run a search for African artists that weren’t from West Africa,” she admitted in an interview with VISI Magazine.
“I love that something that could be called ‘modern minimal’ is a traditional craft of my people,” she added. “I think I just wanted to encourage young and talented African people to put their work out there, in progress, without fear. There is so much out there now, so in turn, young and incredibly talented Africans inspire me today.”
Now, she hopes to inspire fellow artists (and other humans) through her artwork, which she shares on her Instagram page. “What I love most about being creative is that it’s the thing that can take a situation from hopeless to endless in possibility,” she explained.
Take a look for yourself.
