The works of Ayo Filade are both sensuous and architectural. Concerning himself mainly with contrasts in lighting and skin texture, Filade creates scenes that feel slightly surreal. His unique brand of hyperrealism allows him to explore the consequences of conflict, social estrangement, and how people deal with rising tensions both individually and as a society. In the pastel work Classified: I, for example, a woman is depicted in a gesture of self-protectiveness. Her eyes are closed, suggesting inwardness, but also to exaggerate her indifference to the viewer’s gaze.