Ouattara Watts

Ouattara Watts (born May 27, 1957) is an Ivory Coast-born American visual artist,[1][2] known for his multimedia paintings that incorporate African and Western aesthetics and depict themes of spirituality and modernity.

[10] Watts was raised in a household that practiced a syncretic religion, which combined beliefs from several religious traditions, including Christianity, Judaism, Islam, and their native West African spirituality.

Strongly influenced by his West African spiritual upbringing and lived experiences, Watts explores his multicultural identity through his work.

[13] Watts depicts themes of spirituality, Pan-Africanism, and modernism in his large scale, abstract compositions.

[14] Watts uses a variety of mediums, including found objects, materials, photographs, and paint,[4] to incorporate African and Western aesthetics into his work.

[3] He places cultural references in his pieces to evoke themes of technology and spirituality, contrasting modernity with the long-established.

[15] His works are embedded with a visual language[10] that he creates using signs, numerical equations, and photographs of West African spiritual symbols and pop culture icons.