Balafaama Princewill: A Journey Through Emotion, Texture, and Identity

Tosin Clegg

Balafaama Princewill is an artist whose work exists at the meeting point of personal reflection and cultural expression. Her paintings are not just visual pieces; they are emotional landscapes that are raw, evocative, and deeply honest. As she pushes her creative boundaries, moving towards larger, more immersive artworks, Princewill invites her audience to engage with art in a personal and thought-provoking way.

Princewill’s artistic journey has seen a significant shift from digital and charcoal-based work to acrylic painting. This change has redefined her style and approach. “Switching from digital and charcoal to acrylics has been a huge change for me,” she explains. “It has made me think more about texture and layers. Painting allows me to express my emotions in a more physical, intimate way.”
This exploration of texture has now become a defining feature of her work. Unlike the controlled nature of digital art or the stark contrasts of charcoal, acrylics allow her to create depth and physicality in her paintings. The layers and brushwork reflect the complexities of human emotion, adding weight and meaning to every piece.

Colour also plays a vital role in her art, often reflecting the different environments she has experienced. Having grown up in Lagos, her early works carried warm, earthy tones inspired by the vibrancy of her home city. However, after moving to Manchester, her palette shifted. “The colours I use reflect how I feel and where I am,” she says. “In Lagos, everything was bright and warm. Here in Manchester, the light and weather are different, so my colours have become richer and bolder.”
This transition in her palette is more than just an aesthetic choice; it symbolizes her emotional adaptation to a new culture. The deep blues, striking reds, and dark purples in her latest works reflect her journey between two distinct worlds, combining the warmth of her past with the reality of her present.

While her work is deeply personal, it also addresses larger issues such as identity, mental health, and vulnerability. “My work starts from my own experiences, but I want others to see their own stories in it,” Princewill explains. “It is about finding something universal through the personal.”
This balance between personal expression and broader connection is evident in works like “Hope” and “The Oath.” Her brushstrokes often appear chaotic, reflecting inner turmoil, yet each painting holds a structure that gives it balance. “Emotions can be messy, but I want my work to feel grounded too. I rely on instinct to know when a piece is finished. It has to feel honest,” she says.

One of the most distinctive elements of Princewill’s technique is her unfinished, rough brushwork. This has led some to compare her style to Expressionist and Neo-Expressionist painters. “I leave my brushstrokes raw on purpose. I want the energy and emotion of the moment to come through,” she says. “Life is messy and so are emotions, so my work reflects that. I am not aiming for perfection; I am aiming for reality.”

Though she acknowledges the similarities with Expressionism, Princewill resists being boxed into any particular artistic movement. “I understand the comparisons, but I don’t see myself as part of any one style. I draw inspiration from different places, but my work is personal. It comes from my own experiences.”

Princewill has exhibited her work in both Nigeria and the UK, and she has observed how audiences from different cultures interpret her art. “The reception in Nigeria is often immediate because people relate to the cultural details. In the UK, it is more about how the painting feels emotionally,” she says. “That is what I love about art; it opens up space for different people to connect with it in their own way.”

A notable example is her self-portrait titled “Out of Reach.” Some viewers have described it as both “disruptive” and “deeply intimate.” Reflecting on this piece, Princewill says, “It is about longing for something you cannot have. I was in a difficult place emotionally when I painted it, and I think that tension comes through in the work. It is personal, but it resonates with others who have felt that same struggle.”

As her practice continues to grow, Princewill is increasingly drawn to creating larger works that surround the viewer. “I want people to feel like they are stepping into the piece, not just looking at it from afar,” she explains. “I am excited to see how I can push myself and my work even further.”
Her goal is not only to explore scale and technique but also to challenge how people experience art. By blending abstract and figurative elements, she invites her audience to find their own meaning. “I enjoy the balance between clarity and mystery. I want to leave room for the viewer to bring their own story into the painting. That is what makes the connection so powerful,” she says.

Balafaama Princewill’s art is a continuous journey, a dialogue between emotion, form, and the audience. Whether working on smaller, intimate pieces or large-scale immersive works, her commitment to honesty and human connection remains constant. Her paintings remind us that, in a world seeking perfection, there is beauty in rawness and truth.