Tobi Bello’s Revisits Identity, Human Connections in Gravesham Show.
It’s a month set aside to honour and celebrate Nigerian heritage, Black history, cultural identity, creativity, and the contributions of Yinka Olatunbosun October rings differently in the UK for many.
For the participating artists at the show titled ‘Gravesham Black History Month Exhibition 2026 – The Nigerian Experience,’ it was a moment to capture the black experience through visual convergence of ideas and memories.
For the multidisciplinary artist, Babatunde Tobi Bello, his craft has been situated in the social realities of identity, memory, hope, belonging, migration, and the experiences that shape human existence.
Working primarily through figurative painting, Bello combines expressive forms, bold colours, and distinctive root-like patterns to create visual narratives that nurture deeper reflection on the human experience. Presented by Jelosimi Art Centre (JAC) in collaboration with Gravesham Borough Council from October 9 to 31 at St George’s Arts Centre, Gravesend, Kent, UK, the show was an opportunity for Bello to reach a wider, diverse audience. Highly influenced by human experiences, identity and relationships, Bello used his works to mirror human life as a network of connections and experiences. His distinctive root-like pattern technique is tailored to represent the different experiences and connections that shape an individual over time.
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