When Tina Knowles needed a portrait for her memoir Matriarch, she didn’t look to Hollywood or Harlem. She looked to Mushin, a dense neighborhood in Lagos, Nigeria, where rising artist Kelani Fatai Oladimeji was quietly building a name through color, texture, and sheer focus.
Knowles discovered Kelani’s work on Instagram. His portraits, often centered on the strength and elegance of Black figures, immediately struck a chord. She reached out. He responded. That exchange led to a commission that now sits on bookstore shelves around the world, a regal painting of Tina Knowles, dressed in flowing yellow and framed by lilies and a vivid turquoise sky.
Kelani paints with the discipline of someone who’s been preparing for this moment his whole life. Born in Lagos in 1993, he started drawing at age six. He trained under street-side artists before earning a Higher National Diploma from Yaba College of Technology in 2019. His work blends realism with impressionism, often using oil, acrylic, and charcoal to explore themes of identity, womanhood, and memory.
In Matriarch, Knowles reflects on her life as a mother, mentor, and matriarch of one of the most influential families in pop culture. Kelani’s cover matches that tone, calm but commanding, rooted in beauty but layered with meaning. Critics have already compared the portrait to works by Kehinde Wiley and Njideka Akunyili Crosby, artists who elevate Black presence through portraiture.
The cover doesn’t just represent Knowles’ story. It captures something larger, the power of visual storytelling across continents, generations, and cultural history.
This isn’t Kelani’s first international commission, but it is his most visible. And it signals a shift. More collectors, curators, and publishers are looking beyond the West for talent, and finding it in places like Lagos.
“I’m deeply honored to have been commissioned to create the cover painting for The Matriarch by Ms. Tina Knowles,” Kelani wrote after the reveal, expressing heartfelt gratitude for the opportunity.
When we are young, we are often told to dream big and chase our dreams. We are encouraged to follow our passions and pursue our interests. But as we grow older, we sometimes find that our dreams remain unfulfilled. We become caught up in the everyday struggles of life and lose touch with our aspirations.
However, when our dreams finally fall into place, it can be an incredibly fulfilling experience. The journey to achieving our dreams is not always an easy one. We face challenges and obstacles along the way that often make us question our goals. But it is our determination and persistence that ultimately lead to success.
When we stay committed and focused, obstacles become opportunities, and failures become lessons. When we finally achieve our dreams, it’s important to take a step back and reflect on the journey it took to get there. We must acknowledge the hard work and sacrifices we made, and the people who helped us along the way.
It is also important to stay humble, knowing that our dreams did not come true through luck alone, but through consistent effort. Ultimately, when dreams fall into place, it’s a feeling that words can barely capture. It’s the result of years of hard work, determination, and sacrifice. It’s proof that when we stay committed to our goals, we can accomplish anything.
So, never give up on your dreams. With enough dedication and perseverance, they can—and will—fall into place.”
His work has featured in exhibitions across Nigeria, South Africa, Senegal, Paris, Cape Town, and the United States, including solo shows like Much Love and Adorned in Elegance. He’s also participated in group exhibitions under the Carr Center’s “We Everywhere” series. This marks a powerful moment for Nigerian artists stepping onto the global stage as voices of their own making.
