Chris Ofili - R.I.P. Stephen Lawrence

Chris Ofili’s R.I.P. Stephen Lawrence 1974–1993 (2013) is a poignant lithograph with photoluminescent silkscreen that pays tribute to Stephen Lawrence, the Black British teenager whose racially motivated murder in 1993 became a defining moment in British social and political history. The work references Ofili’s landmark painting No Woman, No Cry (1998), where the text “R.I.P. Stephen Lawrence 1974–1993” is revealed under low light, symbolizing remembrance and the endurance of memory.

Measuring 45 x 35.6 cm, the print is part of a limited edition of 100, each accompanied by a certificate of authenticity and hand-signed by the artist. A rare and historically significant edition, it embodies Ofili’s powerful fusion of personal sorrow, social critique, and visual poetry.

“The vicious murder of Stephen Lawrence in 1993 and the pain and suffering of Doreen Lawrence and her family has had a dramatic effect on British life. The painting ‘No Woman, No Cry’, the image of the weeping woman, has always been my way to bring to the surface a sense of sorrow and loss. The painting also has another layer where the text, ‘R.I.P. Stephen Lawrence 1974 – 1993’, is spelled out but is only visible when viewing the painting in lowlight to signify an everlasting life. The recent conviction of two of the murderers was a bittersweet relief but the struggle with institutional racism in British life, highlighted in the Macpherson report, still continues.” – Chris Ofili

Chris Ofili (b. 1968, Manchester) is a Nigerian British artist who emerged as a pivotal figure among the Young British Artists (YBAs) and won the Turner Prize in 1998. His practice merges high art and popular culture to explore themes of identity, mythology, and the cultural experiences of Black communities. Known for his vibrant use of color and layered compositions, Ofili's paintings often incorporate unconventional materials including elephant dung, glitter, magazine cut-outs, and resin, creating richly textured surfaces that challenge conventional notions of beauty and materiality.

His printmaking practice, including etchings and aquatints like this signed limited edition print, showcases his distinctive approach to portraiture and ornament, blending figurative clarity with symbolic depth. Ofili's prints often feature stylized figures, floral motifs, and decorative patterns that reference African textiles, Art Nouveau, and contemporary graphic design.

Over the past two decades, Chris Ofili has exhibited at major international institutions including the Venice Biennale (2003, 2015), Tate Britain (2010), the New Museum, New York (2014), and the Aspen Art Museum (2015). He currently lives and works in Trinidad and Tobago.