NAKOBE

Ultra-realism portraiture in charcoal

Portraits that bring your memories to life.

The Mask, powdered charcoal on cream paper

NAMED COLLECTION

Memory Series 2026

Three portraits of one family: a great-grandmother, a great-grandfather, and a wedding. Drawn from old photographs and brought back to life, so the people in them stay.

⊕ CLICK ANY PORTRAIT TO VIEW IT FULL SIZE

I. Great-Grandmother

II. Great-Grandfather

III. The Wedding

Nakobe, self-portrait in white charcoal on black paper

THE ARTIST

Faces, almost exclusively.

Nakobe builds each portrait in powdered black and white charcoal, applied with a brush, laid down and pulled away until a face surfaces from the paper. What he chases is the essence of a person, the particular look that makes them who they are, and he takes real risks in the work to catch it. Drawing mostly from old photographs, he brings memories to life and makes them permanent. He accepts a limited number of portrait commissions each season.

COMMISSIONS

A limited number, each season.

Send a photograph and I will bring the memory to life, the essence of the person caught in charcoal.

01Inquire with a reference photo 02Reserve with a 50% deposit 03Receive your portrait

Commissions begin at $450

Join the waitlist to reserve a place.

Serious inquiries receive a reply within two days.