Bio

Carol Muthiga-Oyekunle is a Kenyan-American artist and accessories designer. Her work is influenced by a foundation in graphic design and career as a luxury accessories designer. Lolita Lorenzo (named for her daughters Chiara Lola and Siena Lorenza) showcases her multiple disciplines: eyewear, minaudière, jewelry, home decor, illustration and fine art. Carol is a graduate of the Royal College of Art in London (MA Fashion). She lives and works in Paris.

Statement

In the works of Carol Muthiga-Oyekunle, women are portrayed as symbolic warriors, radiating strength and joy. Combining digital and mixed-media collage methods with photography and vivid graphical elements, the artist skillfully interweaves techniques to create bold and brilliant portraits of her female subjects. The resulting art depicts themes from the past, present and imagined futures, holding up a mirror to a patriarchal society.
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Muthiga-Oyekunle finds inspiration for her art in her daily life - from faces on the street to close friends and women she admires. Her experimental approach involves fusing disparate elements (sea creatures, fish tails, insects, fungi, reptiles, corals) and styles into a cohesive whole— it’s this contrast that adds a touch of magic to all her art.
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Recurring themes in the artist’s creative process are culture, tradition and Afrofuturism—the artistic and philosophical movement which envisions a high-tech futuristic African diaspora.
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“My creative process comes from how I feel my ideas can be best presented in a way that is relevant to the world around me, and that can withstand the test of time: merging my Agikuyu heritage, culture, sacred symbolical geometry, and Afrofuturism. I am driven by the notion of the Woman as a symbolic warrior—her battles often go unseen.
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My digital and mixed-media collages reference fashion editorial photography and iconic women, juxtaposed with bold, colorful botanical motifs that present the illusion of their morphing into mythical, ethereal creatures. The central figure is depicted as the heroine. Her hair is her adornment and her clothing is her armor. Feminine themes of creation, transformation, motherhood, love, protection, wisdom and strength are the foundation of my visual art. She is in a constant state of growth—always in 'Bloom'.
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Allowing my heart to bloom means having my inner warrior bravely claim her space. Blooming metaphorically denotes a process of becoming and finding the beauty through it, no matter how challenging. Connecting to this strength and light within ourselves, sets a butterfly effect into motion and inspires others to do the same."

https://www.instagram.com/lolita.lorenzo.art/

https://www.saatchiart.com/coyekunle