Prayer in Gold by Franklyn (84x 134 cm)

Acrylic on velvet

This striking acrylic-on-velvet painting by Nigerian artist Franklin centers around quiet reverence and spiritual presence. A grey-toned figure stands in prayer, hands gently pressed together, adorned with luminous gold and amber beads around the ears and neck. Their head is crowned with intricate, braided yellow hair—a vibrant echo of tradition and pride.

The black velvet backdrop deepens the intimacy of the scene, absorbing light and drawing the viewer’s focus inward, toward the gesture of devotion. Velvet, rare and luxurious as a canvas, adds a tactile richness that heightens the work’s emotional gravity. In Nigerian art, beads often carry meanings of status, spirituality, and ancestral connection, making their presence here both symbolic and soulful.

It’s a painting that honors stillness—the kind felt in moments of personal reflection, ritual, or sacred pause. Franklin uses texture and contrast not just for visual effect, but to echo the quiet power of faith and cultural memory.