Usman Semiu Alvin was born in Ugbenor, Edo state and raised in Effurun Delta State, Nigeria. He is a graduate of the renowned Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, known as the Nigerian School of Colors, where he studied painting. Since a decade ago, Semiu has created realistic and emotive paintings. Due to his passion for human anatomy and his desire to experiment with various styles and methods, his paintings are often figurative. Later, he elevated his figuration to the point where stylization became his primary focus; his stylized figures demonstrate his manipulation skills and ability to distort the human face and physic in his own distinctive style of painting his subjects; this has resulted in the creation of several series. Semiu is currently experimenting with his new approach, which he has been cultivating since mid-2020 during the Covid-19 Pandemic, in which he employs Black Africa figuration and its historic symbolic themes as his primary source of reference to convey his views. This recent research of his spawned the series he is now working on, dubbed DARK SKINNED. Semiu just concluded his traveling debut Solo Exhibition, titled UNAPOLOGETIC with Thought Pyramid Art Centre, Benin and Lagos. And his collection of works is a celebration of the dark-skinned African men and women. Which represents his passion for capturing the raw and unapologetic beauty of our people. Through my art, Semiu want to challenge the negative stereotypes and biases surrounding dark-skinned individuals, and want to show the world that we are unapologetically beautiful, powerful, and worthy of celebration. He is a full-time studio Artist working and resides in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria.