He rose to prominence in the 1990s as one of the Young British Artists (YBAs), distinguishing himself with his use of unconventional materials — resin, glitter, magazine cuttings and, most famously, elephant dung — paired with bold palettes and rhythmic patterns. His influences span from Zimbabwean cave paintings and Renaissance altarpieces to African textiles, hip-hop, blaxploitation films and religious iconography.
His 1996 work The Holy Virgin Mary provoked significant controversy when exhibited in the Sensation! exhibition, notably drawing the ire of New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani. In 1998, Ofili was awarded the Turner Prize — the first Black artist and first painter in over a decade to receive the honour — for his emotive work No Woman No Cry, a tribute to Stephen Lawrence and his mother, Doreen.
In 2000, he visited Trinidad to teach a workshop in Port of Spain alongside his friend Peter Doig. After numerous visits, he relocated there permanently in 2005, finding in Trinidad's landscape and light a new visual language that shaped his later work.
Over the years, Ofili has expanded his practice beyond painting to include large-scale watercolours and tapestry-like works, inspired by his Caribbean surroundings.
His work is included in major public collections worldwide, such as the Tate, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), and the Art Institute of Chicago.
CHRIS OFILI (B. 1968)
Silver Moon
Chris Ofili (b. 1968)
The Holy Virgin Mary
Chris Ofili (b. 1968)
Orgena
Chris Ofili (b. 1968)
Untitled Diptych
Chris Ofili (b. 1968)
Untitled Diptych
Chris Ofili (b. 1968)
Afro Red Web
Chris Ofili (b. 1968)
Dead Monkey--sex, money and drugs
Chris Ofili (b. 1968)
The Naked Soul of Captain Shit and the Legend of the Black Stars
Chris Ofili (b. 1968)
Popcorn Tits
CHRIS OFILI (B. 1968)
Triple Couple
Chris Ofili (b. 1968)
Blue Smoke (Pipe Dreams)
CHRIS OFILI (B. 1968)
Charmant Eigh t
Chris Ofili (b. 1968)
Cupid's Wings
Chris Ofili (b. 1968)
Afro Muses: Harem 5
CHRIS OFILI (B. 1968)
Christmas Eve (Lazarus)
Chris Ofili (b. 1968)
Afro Muses: The Gardener
Chris Ofili (b. 1968)
Blue Lazarus
Chris Ofili (b. 1968)
Afro Muses: Harem 6
Chris Ofili (b. 1968)
The Chosen Ones
Chris Ofili (b. 1968)
Untitled
CHRIS OFILI (B. 1968)
Two Women - Blue
Chris Ofili (b. 1968)
Black Grapes
CHRIS OFILI (B. 1968)
Dancers in Blue Two
CHRIS OFILI (B. 1968)
Blue Confession (Lady Chancellor)
CHRIS OFILI (B. 1968)
Untitled
Chris Ofili (b. 1968)
Untitled (Kissing Couple)
CHRIS OFILI (B. 1968)
Bound and Gagged (Blue)
Chris Ofili (b. 1968)
Two Women (Blue)
Chris Ofili (b. 1968)
Untitled (Afromuse)
Chris Ofili (B. 1968)
Within Reach 5
Chris Ofili (b. 1968)
Untitled
Chris Ofili (b. 1968)
Within Reach 8
Chris Ofili (b. 1968)
Untitled
CHRIS OFILI (B. 1968)
(i) Untitled (ii) Untitled
Chris Ofili (b. 1968)
Untitled
Chris Ofili (b. 1968)
Untitled
CHRIS OFILI (B. 1968)
Untitled (Diptych)
Chris Ofili (b. 1968)
Afro Lunar Lovers
Chris Ofili (b. 1968)
Chris Ofili (b. 1968)
Chris Ofili (b. 1968)
Pink Baffoon
CHRIS OFILI (B. 1968)
Untitled
CHRIS OFILI (B. 1968)
Untitled; Untitled; Untitled [Three Works]
Chris Ofili (b. 1968)
The Artist's Sister
Chris Ofili (b. 1968)
The Chosen Ones
Chris Ofili (b. 1968)
Untitled
Chris Ofili (b. 1968)
Untitled
CHRIS OFILI (B. 1968)
Untitled
Chris Ofili (B. 1968)
Untitled
Chris Ofili (b. 1968)
Untitled