Roseleen Labazacchy.

Portfolio.

Artist Statement.

Through my craft, I intentionally project the natural beauty and pride of the cultivated African woman in a world of global identity crises. As my unconventional creativity seeks to narrate the untold narratives of the black woman’s industry and tenacity while retaining her salient charm. Every blank canvas before me presents an avenue to inspire the female folks to go all the way to defile all societal odds. And to become the best version of themselves. Demanding more out of life than just getting married and nurturing children. I constantly seek to remind the black woman of her durable strength. Enduring worth, unscripted beauty, and inestimable value. In a world that relentlessly seeks to put her behind the kitchenette and determine her worth on her behalf.

In a nutshell, my life-sized portraits and life paintings which are predominantly rendered in mixed media painting. They boldly unravel the least-celebrated virtue, capacity, prettiness, and skillfulness of the African woman. As opposed to the misconstrued themes of feebleness and fragility.

Artist Biography.

Uniquely talented and artistically gifted Roseleen Labazacchy. Who is the first of four (4) siblings hails from Saki, Oyo State – Nigeria but had her childhood days in Oyo town, also in Oyo State, where she had her primary and secondary education. The magical and unorthodox early-bird multi-media Painter inherited a heart for art from her father. She then received training at a tender age at the famous Nike Gallery in 2013 and went on to acquire more skills from various other unincorporated art centers while shuttling between Oyo, Ibadan, and Osogbo all in the south-west part of Nigeria. Without merely sounding metaphorically, Roseleen artistry effortlessly captures a seamless amalgam of post-impressionism and neo-impressionism albeit the dominant reflection of her ultrafeminine tendencies as she tenderly projects the worth and beauty of the African woman.

The sizzling and sissified mixed-media painter cum textilist now boasts of a Nigerian Certificate of Education (NCE). From the esteemed Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Oyo (2019), in Fine-art and has been practicing Art professionally ever since. Roseleen presently based in Ibadan, Oyo state – Nigeria and could be reached through the following operative channels:

• Facebook: Roseleen Labazacchy
• Instagram: Roseleen Labazacchy/r.a.w_craft
• Email: labazacchyroseleen@gmail.com
• Phone: +234 (0) 907 242 0424

My Technique.

As earlier mentioned, it all starts with creative observation, then skeletal pencil sketches. Next, I focus on occupying the background with tonal graduation of leaf prints, going from the bottom to the top. Then I paint. Lastly is the clothed area, which is artistically covered with the colorfully dyed, already-prepared, fabrics which are affixed with an adhesive. This way, my practice is in a class of its own; this is simply the uniqueness of Roseleen’s artistry. However, the following people among many others inspired me to master my style; Njideka Akunyili Crosby, Marcilina, and Oluwole Omofemi.

Inspiration.

First as an inspiration, is my insatiable, deep lying, urge to inspire the Black woman to reach for the stars; refusing to be conformed to ridiculous societal standards without compromising her dignity. I am also keen to constantly prove that nature is beautiful as my paintings de-emphasize the current unguided emphasis on modern artificial beauty. The green, rich and beautiful culture and customs of the Black race also inform my practice.

Medium/tools.

I often mesmerize around canvasses, fabrics, dyes, acrylic, and oil paint; not forgetting my easels, palettes, and brushes. It also goes without mentioning that I sometimes make use of improvised materials. Let me also put on record that in the near future, I have plans to shoot my shots at other art mediums.

Why multi-media painting?

Every human being they say is usually a product of nature and the summation of his life’s exposures and experiences. My intrinsic skills, as well as artistic exposures and tutelage at various art centers, including the insights gained at the four walls of classrooms and studios, all combined to shape my art form. Having participated in the 21st Agbarha-Otor Harmattan Art workshop, and trained at Nike Art Gallery and other various art centers, my craft cannot but reflect “harmonious diversity”. The choice of multi-media painting is simply the aggregate of my adeptness in Tye and dye, a flair for painting, and my desire to find and fan my path in the world of Art.

Exhibitions.

A few art-shows have featured my artworks. These include;

1. Students’ final year Art Exhibition (2019) held in Oyo.
2. Open Windows by VAV Art Gallery (2021).
3. Talentila Art Foundation. Etc.

My Artistry has also drawn the “Art House” Channels TV programme.

Roseleen’s audience.

It is a truism that my works mostly appeals to the female’s world of all age categories. The Black women, whose beauty and value I relentlessly seeks to depict, constantly flocks around my works. But that’s not the entire story. Due to the uniqueness of my rendition (leafy background, use of dyed fabrics with acrylic/oil paints), the masculine counterparts also identify with Roseleen’s ingenuity, industry and originality.

Aspiration and Trajectory.

I would like to have a global visibility and command a worldwide artistic influence; emancipating and challenging not just the African woman, but the entire female folks all over the world to emerge and become the best versions of themselves. With the funds realized through Art, I would gladly facilitate the seamless teaching and learning of Visual art in Nigerian schools and colleges and promote various non-formal Art competitions and workshops. In the next few decades, I’d like to be named in the leagues of Nike Davies-Okunade (C.E.O. Nike Art Gallery) among other leading Black female Artists.

Social Page: Instagram.