Last updated: 26 October 2026
Oscar Ukonu is the Lagos artist who draws photorealistic portraits with a ballpoint pen, spending hundreds of hours on each one. Here you will find our take on his work, where he has shown, and how to buy it.
Our take on Oscar Ukonu
Ukonu’s portraits look like photographs, but every one is ballpoint pen on paper. “I describe my creative process as a practice in time and patience, working approximately 200 to 400 hours on a project,” he writes on his own site.
He picked up his drawing skills at architecture school and settled on ballpoint in 2014: “it just clicked”, he told It’s Nice That. Each drawing starts with a photoshoot. “During the drawing process, I work with multiple photographs from these photoshoots, exaggerating or dumbing down some details.”
His subject is African identity and pride. Give Us This Day Our Daily Breath (2020) responded to Black Lives Matter. There is nothing on open sale at the moment; originals are by enquiry.
Oscar Ukonu: the essentials
- Born in 1993; lives and works in Lagos, Nigeria, according to his own site.
- Draws in ballpoint pen on paper, working from 100 to 200 reference photos for each piece.
- Named works include Coronation II, Girl With The Halo Braid, Nene (2019), Blue Boy (2019) and Passenger (2018).
- His work is in collections in Nigeria and abroad, according to his site.
Oscar Ukonu exhibitions
- Souls and Spirits (group), Voltz Clarke Gallery, New York, 2022.
- Nigeria 5 (group), Corridor Contemporary, Tel Aviv, 2021.
- Insanity (group), Omenka Gallery, Lagos, 2016.
- He has not shown in the UK, and no new show has been announced.
Where to buy an Oscar Ukonu drawing
We found nothing on open sale and no UK seller.
- Prints: his site says prints are available, but his online store showed “The store is closed for maintenance” when we checked.
- Originals: by enquiry through the contact form on his site. Prices are not published.
Oscar Ukonu FAQs
Does Oscar Ukonu really draw with a ballpoint pen?
Yes. Every work on his site is captioned ballpoint pen on paper.
How long does an Oscar Ukonu drawing take?
Between about 200 and 400 hours, by his own estimate.
Where is Oscar Ukonu from?
He was born in 1993 and lives and works in Lagos, Nigeria.
Can I buy an Oscar Ukonu print?
Not right now. His print store was closed for maintenance when we checked; originals are by enquiry.
More from CoolCuration
- Khalif Tahir Thompson at Victoria Miro review: another young artist making portraits of Black life.
- Requin Renard glass pen: for anyone who likes drawing by hand.
- Great Art Explained: James Payne’s guide to how famous works were made.
- Gifts for artists: our edit of presents for people who make things.
Think we’re missing something, got something wrong, or want to be featured? Contact us.
Main image: Oscar Ukonu in his Lagos studio. Photo courtesy of the artist. Cropped and framed by CoolCuration. Details last checked: 26 October 2026.
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