Jacqueline Suowari, the Nigerian artist renowned for her monumental Afro-urban ballpoint pen art, continues to draw global attention with her intricate linework and commitment to exploring mental health, vulnerability, and cultural identity through her work.
Her process is as meticulous as it is mesmerizing. Using nothing more than a pencil and standard ballpoint pens, Suowari creates massive portraits—some towering over 8 feet tall—with an astonishing degree of detail and emotional depth.
“It takes me between four weeks to about two months to finish,” she explained in a recent video posted to her iG page “I would say close to a million strokes per figure.”
From the whispering sound of pen on paper to the meditative rhythm of each stroke, Suowari describes her art as a gateway into another universe.
On average, she uses between 5 to 10 pens per piece, but more elaborate features, like Afro-textured hair, can require up to 20 pens just for the hair alone.
Her bold, Afro-urban aesthetic fuses detailed monochrome illustrations with vibrant performance and fashion elements.
Her work does more than decorate—it sparks conversation around mental health, especially within Nigerian and broader African communities where such topics are often stigmatized.
“Art is a tool to inspire people to be better,” she says. And her work reflects that ethos: part visual storytelling, part personal advocacy.
By anchoring her practice in cultural pride and emotional honesty, Suowari has become a leading figure in the new wave of African contemporary art—one that’s not afraid to confront uncomfortable truths or embrace complexity.
