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Other details :
Unmounted artwork. Mounting and/or framing available on request.
Dimensions :
20x16in
About this artwork
I created It's The Hard Things to serve as a visual manifesto on the necessity of discipline and the transformative power of choosing the difficult path. The composition features a tight, high-contrast crop of a man's face, his steady gaze fixed on a point beyond the frame, paired with the minimalist symbol of red dumbbells. This work explores the philosophy that the "hard way" is often the only way toward true growth; by consistently doing the hard… things, we force our reality and our very existence to adjust and expand.
In this piece, I used bold, expressive ochres and deep shadows to emphasize the physical and mental toll of endurance. The stark, neutral background strips away all distractions, leaving only the subject and the tools of his labor. I want to honor the quiet, daily grit required to build resilience, celebrating the individual who understands that mastery over oneself is the ultimate key to navigating any situation life presents.
Emmanuel Akolo is an award-winning Nigerian visual artist in Niagara Falls, Canada, exploring human emotion, cultural heritage, identity, and community memory through bold light and expressive portraiture. A vital voice in Ontario's arts scene, he won "Best in Show" at the 2025 Niagara Falls Juried Art Exhibition and placed second in the Art Gallery of Hamilton’s live painting competition. His recent solo exhibition, "Unfinished Narratives" (2026), and contributions to "Black Histories: Black Futures" highlight his dedication to historical reclamation and social dialogue.
Akolo's technical versatility shines in digital art licensing partnerships with Samsung Frame TV and LG Gallery TV+. Saatchi Art. Singulart And Artsper named him an "Artist to Collect." An Ontario Arts Council grant recipient and member of CARFAC Ontario and the Niagara Artist Centre, his work is held globally across Canada, the US, UK, France, Hong Kong, & Nigeria
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It's The Hard Things
Emmanuel Akolo
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