My name is Kobena, a Paris-based artist born in 1996 with West African roots. My practice unfolds between abstraction and modern expressionism, exploring light, movement, and memory. My work is deeply inspired by my heritage and by my travels across Asia.

Travelling has shaped my artistic and personal journey. Japan, Korea, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, and Vietnam have all influenced the way I see the world. Each culture carries its own rhythm, its own palette of emotions — reminding me that there are no universal norms, only infinite nuances. These encounters feed my creative process and my search for harmony.

My paintings celebrate femininity as a source of strength, balance, and spirituality. Women of African descent often inhabit my work, as symbols of resilience and inner light.

Since childhood, I’ve been drawn to Japanese culture and manga, which first sparked my passion for drawing. That early fascination still resonates in my art — in the way I blend discipline with imagination, structure with emotion.

As a self-taught artist, I experiment freely with acrylic, oil, pencil, and gold leaf, layering textures to evoke both energy and introspection.

I’m also passionate about art and poetry, often writing haikus that mirror my paintings — small windows into the emotional world behind each piece. Beyond the studio, sport and cinema play a key role in my life, teaching me discipline, patience, and focus — the same virtues that guide my creative process.

Through my art, I seek to reveal what lies beneath the surface — to give form to silence, and meaning to light.

I live and work in Paris, and I’m open to collaborations, exhibitions, and artistic projects.