A self-taught artist from north-central Nigeria, Barry Yusufu often creates paintings that meld charcoal and acrylic to create a variety of tones and textures that are uniquely his own. Yusufu describes his art as Kolo art, meaning “madness in a sane way,” and he leads a movement of Nigerian artists called The Kolony. His portraits are characterized by boldly colored, expressive backgrounds that contrast with more subtle figures who are rendered in achromatic charcoal with deep shadows and fine gradations. Yusufu paints those around him, drawing his inspiration from his community.