What I Hold Back! Emmanuel Akolo Original painting for sale

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What I Hold Back!

Emmanuel Akolo

2026 • Nigeria • Acrylic on Canvas

20 x 16 in

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Emmanuel Akolo

Nigeria

Related collection

The faces of Emmanuel Akolo

19 pieces

Artist highlights

Local Artist
Featured artist
Featured in gallery curations
Works on commission

Discover the creation in interiors

Artwork details

Medium : Acrylic on Canvas
Other details : Unmounted artwork. Mounting and/or framing available on request.
Dimensions : 20x16in

About this artwork

I created What I Hold Back as an intimate study of the internal boundaries we maintain to protect our emotional well-being. The composition is a tight, visceral close-up of a face partially obscured by hands, focusing on the tension between what is expressed and what is deliberately suppressed. In this piece, the vibrant, electric blue of the fingernails acts as a sharp contrast to the warm, high-contrast ochres and deep mahoganies of the skin—symbolizing… the small, bright flashes of our identity that remain visible even when we are shielding our deeper vulnerabilities.

The closed eye suggests a moment of profound internal reflection or a refusal to engage with an overwhelming external reality. I aimed to capture the dignity in this guardedness, celebrating the agency of an individual who chooses exactly how much of their soul to reveal to the world.

Emmanuel Akolo

Nigeria

Credentials

Local Artist
Featured artist
Featured in gallery curations
Works on commission

Akolo Emmanuel Olusegun is a Nigerian-born, Niagara-based contemporary artist who transitioned from a background in Civil Engineering to a profound practice in figurative painting. Blending realism with impressionism, he utilizes acrylics, charcoals, and his own fingerprints to explore themes of identity, social justice, and human resilience. His work is characterized by earthy tones, bold contrasts, and expressive brushwork that documents personal and collective struggles.

Recognized by Saatchi Art as one of the "23 Artists to Collect in 2023"—the only Nigerian selected—he also won "Best in Show" at the 2025 Niagara Falls City Awards. His art has been exhibited internationally and is featured globally via digital licensing on LG Gallery TV+ and Samsung Frame TV. Held in private collections from Canada to China, Akolo’s work serves as a tool for empathy, fostering connection across racial and cultural divides.

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Emmanuel Akolo

What I Hold Back!

You love this artwork, but it’s already been sold?