https://www.gabriellaowaka.com/about daily 0.75 2026-05-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/658f638b0e4ebd5770edf7db/20c24691-6c1d-49a3-a137-144764b4371e/Screenshot+2026-05-17+at+12.28.15%E2%80%AFAM.png https://www.gabriellaowaka.com/contact daily 0.75 2026-05-19 https://www.gabriellaowaka.com/about-benedictio daily 0.75 2026-08-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/658f638b0e4ebd5770edf7db/1e845e34-8475-45d2-9ed5-de10f12fb32a/Screenshot+2026-07-28+at+11.05.28%E2%80%AFAM.png About Benedictio 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. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/658f638b0e4ebd5770edf7db/d53d05c7-5ce9-492e-a048-7cf5ed434cd1/Justin.JPG About Benedictio 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. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/658f638b0e4ebd5770edf7db/6c8856d5-5821-49df-974b-e8bbb7de4c0e/Untitled_Artwork+2.jpg About Benedictio 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. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/658f638b0e4ebd5770edf7db/8ff30c8d-0a02-4ee5-95b3-0ba212e02724/Frankenstein.JPG About Benedictio 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. https://www.gabriellaowaka.com/art daily 1.0 2026-05-19 https://www.gabriellaowaka.com/art/portfolio-99krw-txrgr monthly 0.5 2026-05-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/658f638b0e4ebd5770edf7db/3c89f990-e027-477b-b399-704da90eac74/IMG_8161.jpg Art - ART "Feature Creature " 20x16 Oil, Oil Stick on Canvas https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/658f638b0e4ebd5770edf7db/1779002016674-LVBXLE3MDM3WNQ4K7EZA/IMG_8429.jpg Art - ART "Lauren in Dingle" 16x20 Oil on Linen https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/658f638b0e4ebd5770edf7db/840c82c5-f30d-4109-8c52-5ce49ba81a69/IMG_0461.JPG Art - ART "Ploro" 20xx16 Oil on Linen, 24K gold leaf https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/658f638b0e4ebd5770edf7db/42ba7fdf-797b-415c-b17e-6745e9ac462d/1Ploro+Detail.jpeg Art - ART "Ploro" Detail https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/658f638b0e4ebd5770edf7db/f6c7a0bf-dc6f-4135-ae57-59fe0418fc4e/IMG_0474.JPG Art - ART "Benedictio" 72x48 Oil on Linen, 24k gold leaf https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/658f638b0e4ebd5770edf7db/c91bff20-9446-454c-9e7b-a919a8fca7b4/FullSizeRender.jpeg Art - ART "Inocentia" 20xx16 Oil on Linen, 24K gold leaf https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/658f638b0e4ebd5770edf7db/1bec5328-a13f-4dc1-a1ea-63cc43d53624/IMG_0456.JPG Art - ART "Untitled" 20x16 Oil on Linen