Olubori Babaoye | Richmond | Nigeria

This piece, BART Chronicles, is dedicated to the people that ride BART on a daily basis and the various occurrences that take place on the trains. From city goers in suit and ties, to turf dancers, to the homeless, the dynamic of people that use this form of transportation is wide and versitle. The center piece of this painting is the BART train, as it's positioned directly in the middle of the composition. The scenery below the train consists of a couple turf dancers getting down as a representation of the underground entertainment that takes place on the BART trains. The upper half of the composition, however, is meant to honor the lives of Oscar Grant and Nia Wilson, two young black lives that were brutally cut short at BART stations. Their stories embody the lingering danger that comes with taking public transportation in the Bay Area, as opposed to the vibrant aspects that the turf dancers represent. The cameras seen recording the dancers hold a double meaning, as Oscar Grant was also being recorded when he was shot and killed. Right above the BART train is the San Francisco skyline. With close observation, one can see small silhouettes walking across the top of the train. These silhouettes represent the homeless population, the outcasts of society, the reason certain people get up and move to the other side of the train car. The BART system isn't just for the purpose of getting people from point A to point B, it's a direct reflection of our community, filled with joyous and gruesome stories.

Production Credit

Olubori Babaoye

Technical Details

40 x 60 inches

about the artist

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Olubori Babaoye

Visual Artist

Richmond| Nigeria/USA

Throughout my elementary years, I drew on the playground with chalk during recess and even sketched on my homework assignments. That was when I was introduced to the Oakland School for the Arts where I studied Visual Arts. My time there allowed my creativity to manifest into something remarkable. As a Nigerian-American artist, I feel that it’s my responsibility to commentate on the various socio-economic and political conundrums taking place today in both America and Nigeria. Being that I was raised in a Nigerian household, it’s inevitable that I’ve established such a powerful connection with my homeland. I’ve continuously strived to perfect my craft not only as a classical painter, but also a digital illustrator, Sip & Paint instructor, as well as a live performer/painter. I’ve come to realize the true power that I have as a creative to heal and inspire those around me.

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