About Benedictio
The creation of Benedicto was a community effort. When I first decided to paint my father, I was both inspired and overwhelmed. My father had passed years earlier. This meant I had no physical model to pose for me. Receiving the help of friends and family made everything feel more possible. I am very grateful for their support.
The ephod is inspired by the traditional attire of biblical high priests. The use of Ankara cloth reflects how my culture and faith have been intertwined from childhood. Pat Williams, a close friend of the family, sewed the piece.
I hadn’t known Justin long when I asked him to model for me. He has a build similar to my father. So although I was nervous to ask, I was pleasantly surprised when he agreed. These photos served as the building blocks for the painting.
My father had these large, unique hands; wrinkled, and heavy with a hitchhiker’s thumb. I struck gold when I took a family trip to Nigeria. Reunited for the first time in a few decades, I sat across from my uncle Charles in a hotel in Lagos. As I looked over at him, I saw staring back at me, my father‘s hands.
All that was left in the reference planning process was to bring all these images together. I played with different symbolism and color throughout the piece. In the end, I Frankensteined it all together and went to work painting.