Sid Sanni (b. Brescia, Italy; based in London) is an artist of Nigerian heritage whose multicultural background profoundly shapes his artistic vision. His practice is a captivating fusion of figuration and abstraction, merging the morphology of African masks with the visual language of cartoons to explore diasporic identity.
Drawing from the rich and diverse art histories of Italy, Nigeria, and the UK, Sanni’s work is characterised by vibrant colours, bold lines, and geometric shapes that evoke a sense of movement and energy. Figurative fragments, expressive distortion merge human presence with the exaggerated iconography of animation, creating a symbolic language for constructed identities and complex emotional states.
Architectural and industrial cues are often embedded into his compositions, suggesting tension, balance, and engineered order. This fusion of the familiar and the fantastical creates thought provoking, dreamlike narratives that blur the lines between reality and imagination. Texture and movement play a central role, amplifying the energy of each piece.
Sanni’s ever evolving body of work is an ongoing exploration of form, movement, and texture, opening a space between the personal and the imagined and inviting viewers on a journey through the intersections of culture, emotion, and abstraction.
Exhibitions
2021, New Beginnings, open studio exhibition, London
2023, Perfected Imperfections, group show, collaboration with Kaecen, artistic fragrance house, Covent Garden, London
Upcoming show TBC