Ofili, Chris (1968– )

British artist. He is the first painter since 1985, and the first black artist ever, to win the Turner Prize (1998). His work reflects his African heritage and incorporates elements of popular culture. He is known for using unusual media in his works, such as elephant dung.

Ofili was educated at the Royal College of Art in London, England. He first used elephant dung in his art whilst studying in Zimbabwe, and was inspired by the caves he saw there to use dots in his paintings when he saw a cave in Africa covered in dots.