Meet Toki Awonuga | Concept Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Toki Awonuga and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Toki, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I was born and raised in France, to a French mom, Bernadette Dubois, and Nigerian dad, Emmanuel Awonuga. Naturally, French and Nigerian cultures are a huge part of who I am. I love hearing stories from my dad, about Yoruba mythology and our family’s history, and incorporating them into world-building and design concepts. My mom always encouraged a deep appreciation for European art and nature, taking us to marvel at the cathedrals and museums in Paris, and walk in the forest behind our house. As an artist, I try to draw from my background by emphasizing Afro-fantasy themes, along with European gothic aesthetics. This bicultural upbringing made me naturally inclined toward thinking outside the box, and merging themes that seem incompatible at first. Ten years ago, I moved to the US to study International Relations. While I didn’t end up pursuing it as a career, that education gave me many historical and global references, which I try to use to help make my designs richer and more believable. Even more importantly, though, the experience of being a stranger in a strange land, and learning a new language and culture, was pretty humbling. It quickly taught me to listen more, and judge less. Jumping through the many hoops that come with being an immigrant also taught me resilience. Staying humble and observant has been hugely important for pursuing a career in the arts, where progress can be slow and frustrating.
As an immigrant and bicultural person, I feel strongly about the need for diverse, nuanced stories. I only hope my work communicates that in some way.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Art has always been my joy and lifeline, but making it my career has definitely been a bumpy ride. As a child, art was a safe haven, my own world where I could explore my ideas and experiences, even when the outside world felt scary or isolating. I was constantly creating: comics, trading cars, characters, creatures…anything I could dream up! I was hugely inspired by (and still love) 90s French, American, and Japanese pop culture. And yet, because I rarely saw anyone who looked like me in the IPs that I loved, I somehow felt distant from them. I subconsciously internalized the idea that my only options in pop culture were to be invisible, or misrepresented. Around age twelve, I felt discouraged from pursuing art any further, thinking I didn’t have the talent or capability to succeed, especially given that artistic careers were not encouraged in my family.

I left art waiting in the wings for about ten years. Long story short, I hit a point where I had to reexamine everything I was doing, and why. I realized that I was living a life that wasn’t mine, and that pursuing art wasn’t a choice, but necessary in order to be my authentic self.

Along the way, I discovered concept art as a career field, and it immediately felt like the perfect fit. I love the emphasis on generating ideas and worldbuilding, which is what I’d been doing since childhood. Creating concepts is a process that feels very fluid and alive, as the ideas move through iterations and become more detailed and nuanced with each pass. Right now, my focus is on Afro-fantasy and dark fantasy art; given my background, I place an emphasis on West African design and storytelling.

Art, for me, is not only a career, but an act of self-care. By putting my ideas on paper, and giving creativity more authority over my life, I’m creating space for the kid I used to be to re-emerge. I’m giving my inner child the chance to express everything he was discouraged from expressing, and maybe make the world brighter for it. That’s a lot of what my art is– the characters and stories that I would have wanted to see as a kid.

My hope is that my art can one day encourage and inspire others, who may have also felt unseen. Despite the challenges, I’m able to stick with this journey, because I believe in art’s ability to make the world more inclusive and beautiful.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I live in San Pedro, a little hidden gem in the South Bay, a bit removed from the hustle of downtown LA. It’s not quite “exciting,” but we’ve got cozy Cabrillo Beach, a craft market full of artisans, and views of Catalina Island. But, when friends and family visit, they are often coming from overseas, so we try to get to the well-known spots, like Little Tokyo, Griffith Observatory, and the Santa Monica pier. My personal favorite is probably The Getty; it still blows my mind that I can hop in the car, and casually go see Renaissance paintings!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
A year ago, I was hugely fortunate to get accepted into an apprenticeship program with the BRIC Foundation, a nonprofit organization working to increase representation in the entertainment industry. They placed me with Terraform and 9B Collective, two incredible concept art studios, where I had the privilege of working on the concept art for AAA video game titles. Under the invaluable guidance of my supervisors (HUGE shout-out to Phillip Boutté Jr., Mike Uwandi, and Finnian MacManus), I learned the ins and outs of studio life. Without this opportunity, it probably would have been years before I got real studio experience. Another huge source of support is my mentor, Brian Matyas, who is not only an amazing concept artist, but one of the most genuine and kind people I’ve ever met. He’s taken precious time to help me shape my goals and portfolio, and most of all keep me encouraged and hyped to keep creating. That positivity is crucial as an artist, given how hard this field can be. I really can’t thank him enough.
None of this would have been possible without the work of Nicole Hendrix, who is the co-founder and Executive Director of the BRIC Foundation. Nicole took a chance on me despite my lack of experience, and that changed everything for me. She is a powerhouse of a human, and is single-handedly pushing the industry forward in so many ways.
I couldn’t talk about my art journey without mentioning my wife, Emma, who’s been supporting my career since it began in 2018. She is my partner-in-crime, my moral compass, my everything. I wouldn’t be where I am today without her, my friends, and my family’s love and support. (You all know who you are!)
The kindness and generosity I’ve experienced from others is something I hope to pay forward as I continue in my career.

Website: https://www.artstation.com/toki60

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokiawonuga/

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/toki-awonuga-187356172