Kelvin Okafor – Drawing Awareness

Drawing Awareness by Kelvin Okafor at Hope93 gallery in June  2025 showcased hyper‑realist graphite portraits elevating stories of visible difference, empathy, inclusion and resilience. Visit: https://hope93.com/exhibitions/16-kelvin-okafor-drawing-awareness/works/

Each piece shows remarkable detail. Every wrinkle, scar, and strand of hair feels tangible. Moreover, each sitter has a visible skin difference. They include Winnie Harlow (vitiligo), Seal (lupus), Katie Piper (acid‑attack survivor), and others.

Okafor paints with precision. He spends up to 500 hours on one drawing. Then he invites us to pause and reflect. Next, we see not just likeness. We feel a story of resilience and identity. Also, the exhibition partners with advocacy groups like Face Equality International, The Katie Piper Foundation, and Changing Faces.

Furthermore, Okafor says his inspiration came from his portrait of Winnie Harlow. That work sparked a broader mission to highlight visible differences and promote empathy. Therefore, Drawing Awareness serves as both art and movement. It challenges beauty norms. It urges compassion. Finally, it opens hearts. The portraits demand presence. The experience stays with you. Ultimately, Okafor uses pencil to redraw our view of humanity.

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