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Chris Ofili

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description Chris Ofili Overview

Chris Ofili is a British painter, born in Manchester in 1968, whose work combines figurative imagery with layered surfaces and references to religion, popular culture, sexuality, and Black identity. His paintings have incorporated materials such as glitter, resin, map pins, collage, and elephant dung, sometimes using decorated pieces of dung as supports or compositional elements. Ofili won the Turner Prize in 1998 and later represented Britain at the Venice Biennale.

help Chris Ofili FAQ

What materials does Chris Ofili use in his paintings?

Chris Ofili is known for incorporating unconventional materials into his paintings, including elephant dung, glitter, resin, map pins, and collaged elements from popular media. His layered surfaces combine these materials with paint to create richly textured works referencing religion, sexuality, and Black identity.

Was Chris Ofili's work controversial at the Brooklyn Museum?

Yes, Chris Ofili's painting The Holy Virgin Mary sparked major controversy when exhibited at the Brooklyn Museum's Sensation show in 1999. The painting, which incorporated elephant dung and cutouts from pornographic magazines, drew fierce criticism from then-New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani.

Did Chris Ofili win the Turner Prize?

Yes, Chris Ofili won the Turner Prize in 1998, becoming one of the few Black artists to receive the award at that time. His winning exhibition featured his characteristically ornate mixed-media paintings incorporating elephant dung, glitter, and map pins.

Where can I see Chris Ofili's work?

Chris Ofili's work has been exhibited in major institutional retrospectives, including a notable exhibition at Tate Britain in London. His paintings are held in permanent collections at institutions such as the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Tate.