Oh ~ The Art Ministry - Featured Artists

Painter and Designer

The Art of Oh

Oshilaja Hemsley, a.k.a. Oh, was born in Lagos, Nigeria and graduated from Hornsey College of Art in London with a BA Hons in Graphics. Currently based in Wales, Oh continues to develop her unique style of pastel paintings.

Oh has exhibited internationally and her shows include solo exhibitions in Barcelona, Paris, Miami, Lagos, Istanbul, London, Los Angeles and New York to name a few. Her paintings are also housed in corporate collections in Nigeria and Togo and she has received several prominent awards including Best New Artist for the International Art Business Symposium, Certificate of Recognition by World Contemporary Art and First Prize in Pastel category for I Am Group Inc. Florida.

Oh paints using the highest quality material working with fat Unison sticks or the hand-crafted pastels made by Diane Townsend. This choice of material captures the primordial and infinite aspects of Oh’s imagination, drawing out the depth and gentleness that sits within the artist. Oh explains “I describe the paintings as "Emotional Landscapes"... they can be seen as a reflection of the soul as they come from the deepest Truth of my being, and viewers make the connection with the paintings because their own inner essence is reflected back to them.”

Most artists working with pastels use pastel boards or pastel papers which have a deeper “tooth” to grip the pastel, but Oh has found these to be too rigid and restricting, preferring to work with watercolour paper; “my favourite is Fabriano watercolour paper. Weights usually vary from 300gsm to 600gsm... cold pressed, wood-free and acid free.”

In her first collection to be released through The Art Ministry, 12 paintings embody the deepest Truths of our soul as it travels timelessly through the gamut of the human emotion. The organic, biomorphic signature-traits of Oh's work come from her deep spiritual connection, resulting in works of a pure ethereal nature.

In the painting entitled Time, Oh surpasses herself as she explores the beginning, the end and, paradoxically the infinite. A deeply reflective painting, Oh creates with a need to comprehend the notion of time. Time evokes our sense of affinity and draws you into a spiritual place where the past, present and future seem infinite.

The Heart Centre depicts colours of the heart chakra, the pinks and greens express love in its purest form. Some people see lovers intertwined, others connect with healing.

In The Melody Lingers music and song feed the soul, and bodies celebrate in fluid, sensual motion. The colours used evoke the earth and the sky, commenting on the experience of intimate movements.

Ultimately, Oh’s work encompasses the colour of nature and the colours of the human spirit, allowing the viewer a very inclusive and immediate relationship with her work.

To view samples of Oh's work click on the Gallery. To see Oh's current collection click here.

If you would like to view her work in person, click on Events to find out where her work is showing next.

To keep updated on the development of Oh’s future projects or to contact Oh click here.

For all Press queries please contact the Media Team.

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