Oto-Abasi Attah is a multidisciplinary Nigerian-American artist based in Los Angeles, California. His practice began as a form of personal therapy and self-discovery, evolving into a powerful vehicle for exploring identity, heritage, and the ever-shifting dynamics of culture.
Working across illustration, painting, sculpture, and installation, he weaves together personal narrative and collective history, inviting viewers into immersive, participatory experiences. His work is rooted in community engagement and guided by a belief in the transformative power of storytelling through art.
Central to his practice is the ongoing tension between honoring the cultural foundations and communities that shaped him and the recognition that growth often requires unlearning and reimagining inherited beliefs. Through this lens, his work becomes both a tribute and a challenge of celebrating legacy while questioning the narratives that no longer serve the collective good. In doing so, he offers a path forward: one that embraces evolution without erasure.
His visually rich, illustrative language offers entry points into complex conversations, fostering emotional and intellectual connection. He creates work that not only resonates personally, but also holds space for broader dialogue bridging the intimate with the universal.
He has collaborated with leading brands such as PacSun, Angel City Football Club, Hulu, and Facebook, and his work has been featured by institutions including The Crenshaw Dairy Mart, Afro Punk, the Brooklyn Children’s Museum, Rhimes Performing Arts Center, and Black Lives Matter. These collaborations reflect the broad appeal of his practice.
At its core, his work serves as a grounding force; striking a balance between joy and resilience through memory and imagination. By encouraging reconnection with the inner child, he challenges viewers to dream expansively, creating a legacy not just of art, but of possibility.
His work is held in private collections and has garnered attention for its emotional accessibility, community resonance, and conceptual strength making it a compelling addition to both institutional and personal collections.