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Revealing Africa’s vast, unseen and unrealised
Wealth.
Carried within its people and embedded in its land.
Through symbolic portraiture, Mitchelle explores the vast unrealised wealth within Africa’s youth and natural resources,challenging perception and calling for awakening.
Featured Series
Mitchelle James Innocent.
Mitchelle James Innocent.
Mitchelle James (b. 1992, Lagos), also known as MitchyJ, is a Nigerian visual artist exploring the relationship between Africa’s mineral wealth and the untapped potential of its youth. His work positions natural and human resources as parallel forms of inherited capital, engaging themes of Black wealth, purpose, and value.
Initially discouraged from pursuing art, he stepped away before returning with renewed conviction an experience that informs his commitment to reclaiming overlooked potential within African contexts. Trained in Philosophy of Art at the University of Uyo, he works in oil and mixed media. He has exhibited internationally and was selected for the 2025 Biennial at the Dafen Art Museum.
The 4th Dafen International Biennale Oil Painting
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Art On The Loop:The Holy Art Gallery Athens, Greece
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Gaia: Earth Is Calling Online Exhibition, Vancouver, Canada
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Humanism. Thought Pyramid Art Centre Lagos, Nigeria
EXHIBITIONS & RECOGNITION
A curated record of exhibitions, institutional presentations, international selections, and recognitions that reflect the growing cultural and conceptual significance of Mitchelle’s artistic practice within contemporary African and global art conversations.
TREASURES FROM THE WEST OIL ON CANVAS
2024
36 X 50 INCHES
MESSAGE TO THE NORTH; THE HARVEST IS PLENTY, BUT THE LABOURERS ARE AS ATOM
2022
OIL ON CANVAS 50 x 36 INCHES.
MOMENT OF INTROSPECTION
2020
Oil On Canvas 36 x 30 INCHES
ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE, IF YOU BELIEVE
2020
Mixed media; Oil, Vinyl Ink, White Sand, Beads, and Glitter dust on board 24 x 36 Inches
Awards or recognitions: Exhibitions (solo or group):Solo
ARTWORKS
Working primarily in oil and mixed media, I constructs paintings that merge portraiture with geological, botanical, ornamental, and symbolic elements, positioning African youth and natural resources as parallel forms of under-recognized wealth and possibility.
BUILD YOUR WORDS, BUILD YOUR NATION .
2021
Mixed Media On Board (Beads, Oil, Glitters, Vinyl Ink, Sand)
24 x 36 INCHES
PRESS & RECOGNITION
A collection of media features, institutional acknowledgments, exhibition highlights, and public recognitions documenting the growing visibility and critical engagement surrounding Mitchelle’s artistic practice.
Through press coverage, international exhibitions, and curatorial recognition, these milestones reflect the increasing relevance of Mitchelle’s work within contemporary conversations on African identity, inherited wealth, consciousness, and cultural transformation.
ADDITIONAL COVERAGE
https://tribuneonlineng.com/fela-on-horseback-nowhere-to-be-found/
https://thenationonlineng.net/how-i-was-inspired-to-paint-missing-fela-calls/amp/
https://pmnewsnigeria.com/2026/02/23/fela-painting-valued-at-n500k-declared-missing/
https://leadership.ng/a-fela-portraiture-valued-n500000-goes-missing/
2022
With 2023 Elections in View, Artist Raises Moral Questions in ‘Be Luxuriant’ Exhibition
2024
An Artist’s Vision in Paintings Parading the Nation’s Potentials Yinka Olatunbosun
2025
Who will give us a masterpiece?”, Next of Kin Season 7, Thought Pyramid Centre, Lagos
2024
Through The Looking Glass, The Art Hotel Gallery, Lagos.
2017
