Adorn - Exhibition By Jacqueline Suowari

The Artist
Jacqueline Suowari is an internationally acclaimed multidisciplinary artist, widely known for her large-scale
ballpoint pen drawings, which are the largest in Africa, earning her the title "Queen of the Ballpoint Pen". Her
works, some of which are up to 10 feet wide, take several months & millions of ballpoint pen strokes to
complete. Suowari has expanded her creative practice to include sculpture, poetry, performance art, and film,
with her very first short film, "Of Lines and Layers" earning a nomination at the 2022 Africa Magic Viewers'
Choice Awards (AMVCA).
She has exhibited around the world, from Miami to London, New York to Lagos, and most recently, a solo
exhibition in Paris (France), touring to London in October.
She has received several awards, and has been featured by international & local media, including specials from
Forbes Africa and CNN. Jacqueline is also dedicated to social impact and youth development. She founded The
Passion for Art Initiative, which has supported over 800 young people to launch their art careers globally. In
2021, she published "Jacqueline Suowari; A Journey Through Time," a comprehensive overview of her work. Her
art is widely collected & sought-after both locally and internationally.

Memoirs From Kelechi’s Ball I

Memoirs From Kelechi’s Ball I
Size: 150cm x 184cm
Media: Ballpoint Pen, Ink, Acrylic, Cloth & Gold Leaf on Archival paper
Year: 2024
The central figure looks fixedly at the viewer, bearing a sense of dignity, but also curiosity. Elegantly adorned in a dress of Dutch
wax fabric patterns, a traditional Nigerian hairstyle–emblematic of the artist’s heritage–and elbow-length gloves that reference
French haute couture, this portrait is an emotional exploration of cross-cultural influences that implores the viewer to behold the
figure’s personality and story.

Memoirs From Kelechi’s Ball II

Memoirs From Kelechi’s Ball II
Size: 150cm x 178cm
Media: Ballpoint Pen, Ink, Acrylic & Cloth on Archival paper
Year: 2024
A graceful woman gazes directly at the viewer with soft and curious eyes. Wearing a dress with a Regency-period neckline and
elbow-length gloves, European fashion styles which play in juxtaposition with traditional Nigerian motifs, patterns, and hairstyles.

The Wind, It Whispers My Name

The Wind, It Whispers My Name
Size: 150cm x 183cm
Media: Ballpoint Pen, Ink, Acrylic, Cloth & Gold Leaf on Archival paper
Year: 2024
The central figure sits down in a lush natural environment, taking in the beauty of the world around her. She transmits an
attractive, magnetic aura, her stylish and modern city attire–colourful, vibrantly patterned, elegantly accessorised–contrasting with
the simplicity and pureness of the field in which she is situated. The work speaks to the need for all of us to take a moment to
breathe in the world around us and appreciate the wonder of the natural environments in which we live. But the work also
makes us wonder what the woman is daydreaming about. Could she be newly in love?

If You Forget Me,
Never Forget Paris
SOLD

If You Forget Me, Never Forget Paris
Size: 122cm x 141cm
Media: Ballpoint Pen, Ink, Acrylic, Gold leaf & Cloth on Archival paper
Year: 2024
A powerful portrait of a stylish young woman sporting a beret with a Chanel-inspired jacket and jewellery. She gazes directly at the
viewer with an air of confidence and mystique, though her eyes are hidden behind sunglasses that belie complex emotions
underneath. The viewer is encouraged to imagine what stories may lie underneath this fashionable exterior. Is the woman feeling a
sense of self-assurance? Judgment? Or might she even be heartbroken?
SOLD

Only The Brave

Only The Brave
Size: 150cm x 157cm
Media: Ballpoint Pen, Ink, Acrylic, Cloth & Gold Leaf on Archival paper
Year: 2024
A young and stylish couple, the female figure is the central point of attention, adorned in a velveteen mini dress laden with texture
and ornamentation, with her hair tied up in a fashionable high braided ponytail. The absence of facial features on the male figure
makes it clear that he is not the star of the show, allowing full attention to be focussed upon his partner. Despite this, attention to
detail, such as the rondelles of the Eiffel Tower on his shirt, serve as a symbol that fortifies the cultural and sartorial relationships
between Nigeria and France.

Vanity Room

Vanity Room
Size: 150cm x 148cm
Media: Ballpoint Pen, Ink, Acrylic & Cloth on Archival paper
Year: 2023
A reflective still life that allows the viewer to take a peek into the personal lives of Suowari’s figures. It is a portrait of the quiet,
unseen moments within the day: the time spent in dedicated preparation before leaving the house, or the respite of unwinding at
the end of the day. Within a minimalist and modern bathroom interior, we see multitudes of references to the artist’s Nigerian
heritage, such as traditional motifs on the wallpaper, Dutch wax fabrics hanging on the wall, and an afro wig.

Braided Bonds

Braided Bonds
Size: 141cm x 160cm
Media: Ballpoint Pen, Ink, Acrylic, Cloth & Gold Leaf on Archival paper
Year: 2024
Speaking to the intimate ritual that women pass down of doing one another’s hair. In this piece, two young girls on the cusp of
womanhood sit within an intimate interior environment, adorned in garments that are rich in pattern and texture. One woman
carefully and lovingly arranges the hair of the other (perhaps her friend or sister) in a unique, fashionable style, whilst the second
woman looks upon the viewer, implicating us into this emotional and personal moment.

My Sister’s Keeper
SOLD

My Sister’s Keeper
Size: 149cm x 150cm
Media: Ballpoint Pen, Ink, Acrylic, Cloth & Gold Leaf on Archival paper
Year: 2024
A richly ornamented and textured mixed-media portrait that conveys the complex relationships between sisters. The faceless
figures seem to look out towards the viewer, and yet their lack of facial features keep us guessing as to the sisters’ emotional
temperament. The title of the work refers to the Biblical reference of Cain and Abel, a story of a complex and fraught relationship
between two brothers that ends in violence. In My Sister’s Keeper, however, love and sorority reigns, depicted through the spatial
closeness of the two sisters in the portrait.
SOLD

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www.londonlighthousegallery.com
With special thanks to
London Lighthouse Gallery & Studio
18 Lyell Street, London City Island, London, E14 0TS