Lynette Yiadom-Boakye

Lynette Yiadom-Boakye (b. London, 1977) is a British contemporary artist and writer, best known for her evocative figurative paintings that depict fictional characters. Her portraits are created from memory and imagination rather than live models, giving them a timeless, enigmatic quality.

She studied at Central Saint Martins, Falmouth College of Art, and the Royal Academy Schools, graduating in 2003. Her work explores themes of identity, representation, and narrative, often leaving her subjects open to interpretation. Yiadom-Boakye’s paintings are admired for their painterly brushwork, muted palettes, and the psychological depth of her figures.

Her career highlights include:

Turner Prize nomination (2013) for her exhibition Extracts and Verses.

Major solo exhibitions at the Tate Britain, Serpentine Gallery, and New Museum, New York.

Inclusion in prestigious collections such as the Tate, Victoria & Albert Museum, and the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York.

In addition to painting, she is also a published writer, with her essays and short stories complementing the narrative qualities of her visual work.

Representation: Corvi-Mora Gallery, London & Jack Shainman Gallery, New York