It’s with great honor that we welcome Austen Uchechukwugeme Amaefule, also known by his artist name Styn, to the ARTssembly. Born in 2000 in Lagos, Nigeria, Austen is a self-taught artist and a student of Pharmacology at the University of Lagos. From scribbling on newspapers as a child to recreating comics and cartoon characters, his love for drawing has been constant. Though his academic path led him into medicine, art has always been—and remains—his first love. Today, he creates from his home studio in Lagos, working primarily with charcoal, oil paints, and ballpoint pens.

My first encounter with Styn’s work on Instagram was unforgettable. The level of realism was unlike anything I’d seen before—technical brilliance matched with raw emotional force. His pieces didn’t just look real; they felt real. They commanded attention and stirred something deep, almost sacred. So when he responded to my invitation to join the ARTssembly, I was both ecstatic and humbled. And in conversation, I met not only a brilliant artist but also a thoughtful, grounded, and deeply authentic soul.

Styn’s artistic journey is a testament to perseverance and passion. Though art was always present in his life, it wasn’t until university—after witnessing a roommate’s realistic portrait—that he was compelled to pursue it seriously. Then came the pandemic, personal loss, and long months of isolation. But from those challenges came a turning point: a deep, focused return to his craft. He immersed himself in classical techniques, studied light, form, and Nigerian literature, and began creating pieces that spoke to both personal truth and collective experience.

His work now bridges detailed realism with conceptual depth, exploring grief, mental health, cultural identity, and the tension between tradition and Western influence. In series like Homeless, he captures the complex story of young Nigerians searching for belonging abroad—only to find themselves strangers in distant lands, longing for the very home they once sought to escape. Each piece is not just a portrait, but a mirror: a reflection of the silent struggles and unresolved emotions we all carry.

Styn doesn’t just create images—he crafts experiences. His art lingers in the mind, stirs the heart, and invites deep reflection. If you’re ready to own a piece that speaks louder than words and lives beyond the canvas, explore his work here.

Follow him at: https://www.instagram.com/styn_theartist/?hl=en

Location: Lagos (Nigeria)