Olivia Pendergast

Olivia Pendergast is an American artist whose work is at a crossroad of cultures. Having moved to Nairobi, Kenya, the artist paints biographical portraits of the people around her and the landscape of Africa. Through these expressionistic portraits, Pendergast aims to capture the unique aura of each person she encounters around the city. The artist’s emotional portraits pay homage to the city and its people, while incorporating the stylistic influence of the masters of the 20th century: Picasso, Modigliani and Gauguin.

Olivia Pendergast Figurative Art Education and Career

Olivia Pendergast graduated from Columbus College of Art and Design, where she majored in Illustration. After a five-year stint working in the LA film industry as a conceptual designer, the artist began to immerse herself in her passion for painting.

Travelling the world, Pendergast eventually settled in Kenya. Olivia Pendergast’s African portraits have been exhibited across the United States for decades. More recently, the artist’s original artwork has been shown in Europe, Dubai and Kenya.

Pendergast’s Approach to Modern Figurative Art

Working in oil, Pendergast references the masters of Primitivism stylistically, but gives old attitudes a contemporary twist. The artist aims to truly see and appreciate the people she paints, and to prompt an appreciation of humanity from the viewer.

Olivia Pendergast’s contemporary paintings are characterised by the use of loose, almost transparent brush strokes, and soft, muted colour palettes to create a gentle effect. Each artwork looks beyond physical traits to evoke the true essence and spirit of the artist’s sitters. This can be seen in Boy on Barrel - Kangemi (2016) in which the restlessness of a young boy is expertly rendered.

Collections and Exhibitions

Many of Pendergast’s portrait paintings are currently housed in permanent collections across the United States and Kenya. Recent temporary shows have taken place at the Serenade Gallery, Ethiopia, and the Thomas Gilcrease Museum, Oklahoma, with Pendergast’s vibrant paintings receiving critical acclaim. You can find Olivia Pendergast art for sale at Rise Art.