Ultra Mare | Kajahl

Santa Cruz, CA based artist Kajahl's work is inspired by the ancient world. Through his oil paintings, he brings fictional characters to life in imagined scenes. The works in Ulta Mare are inspired by the sea and ancient heritage, using portraiture to challenge and overturn white, European historical narratives. Kajahl reimagines Greco-Roman artifacts, depicting Africans as mystical seaborne figures, redefining the historical portrayal of “aethiops,” an archaic term for dark-skinned people. 

About the Artist:

Kajahl’s work is inspired by the ancient world. He brings fictional characters to life in an imagined scene, through the medium and tradition of oil painting. In a sense, his work is based on a true story that diverges into fantasy, placing Kajahl as court painter to a mythical civilization.