Tobi Bello

In January, we welcome Tobi Bello, a Nigerian/Irish visual artist working across photography and painting, with a background in both creative production and community engagement. Her work is characterised by deep, expressive colour, focusing on elements of light, texture, and tone. With experience as both a photographer and painter, Tobi brings a unique perspective that blends realism with artistic interpretation. Her approach is deeply collaborative, underpinned by her studies in sociology and extensive work in community-building. Through her art, Tobi aims to inspire greater diversity within the Irish creative industry, encouraging more inclusive representation and storytelling.

During the residency in Draíocht, Tobi will focus on a mixed-media project that combines visual documentation with recorded conversations. Building on her experience within Black and Irish communities, she plans to invite individuals, primarily from the D15 area, to share their stories, capturing these narratives through both imagery and audio. Throughout this process, she will gather an archive of photographs to inspire an ongoing project.