Self Reliance Mixed Media Painting

This mixed media painting celebrates inner strength, self-trust, and the quiet power of confidence and creative independence

about this mixed media painting

“Self Reliance” is a powerful exploration of independence, confidence, and the quiet strength of inner authority. This mixed media painting depicts a figure reclining on a couch, embodying calm self-assurance and focused presence.

The work captures the audacity to create with limited tools yet limitless vision. Through layered textures, considered composition, and thoughtful detail, it evokes resilience, disciplined patience, and the courage to act without seeking approval. Every element suggests that strength can be self-generated, and true confidence grows from within.

This painting celebrates self-trust, creative sovereignty, and the transformative power of cultivating one’s own path. It invites viewers to reflect on how autonomy, dedication, and inner conviction define both identity and accomplishment.

about the artist

Samuel Kayode Toba, born in 1990, is a Nigerian conceptual artist working from Oyo State, Nigeria. He studied art at The Polytechnic Ibadan and earned a Higher National Diploma in Painting in 2018. Since graduation, he has steadily pursued his practice with deep fascination for Nigerian colors, textures, folklore, and cultural narratives.

Working primarily with acrylic and newsprint on textured canvas, he expresses personal curiosities through bold, animated strokes. His distinctive style fuses traditional Nigerian motifs with contemporary expressions, creating compositions that resonate on emotional and cultural levels.

Toba’s approach celebrates acrylics in pure hues and in carefully blended layers that highlight movement, depth, and spontaneity. His brushwork combines dynamic textures with layered impressions, emphasizing both control and freedom in two-dimensional spaces. He integrates contrasting and complementary colors with confidence, infusing each piece with energy and striking visual impact.

The recurring black human form anchors his exploration of identity, memory, spirituality, and interconnectedness. Through this motif, he pushes boundaries of perception and expands how African culture can be represented in contemporary art. His works promote heritage while celebrating beauty, urging audiences to reimagine art’s possibilities and cultural significance. 

Exhibited in galleries and art fairs locally and internationally, his work receives acclaim for evocative storytelling and powerful imagery. Toba continues to advance his vision, creating art that speaks globally while rooted deeply in African traditions and perspectives.

copyright

This mixed media painting is one of a kind original therefore, all copyrights and reproduction rights are reserved by the artist.

View his Dubai collection of available artworks here