Exploring themes of identity, culture, and human experience through her meticulous ballpoint pen compositions, Jacqueline Suowari – internationally acclaimed as the “Queen of the Ballpoint Pen” – has garnered recognition from prominent organisations and world-renowned media outlets.

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“An    Evening with Jacqueline Suowari,” the invite announced. It was for some fancy art thing at Bakendales Café, an art-deco-inspired space along Glover Road in the upscale Ikoyi neighbourhood of Lagos. Apparently, this Abuja-based female artist – increasingly known in serious art circles to be really good at drawing with ballpoint pens – must have made a big enough impression for such a distinguished gathering that included the US Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills, and his wife, Leigh, to have deemed it worthy enough to attend. 

The event – Suowari’s first private art salon in Lagos and a strictly-by-invitation affair – was hosted by Emeka Nweze, a Lagos-based collector, and drew in a crowd of art lovers, collectors, and connoisseurs. It featured only 10 limited edition pieces from her “Hair With Me” series. “What started out as a figment of an artist’s imagination came to life in the most beautiful form, and I’m truly grateful to God for making it possible,” the artist gushed in a recent Instagram post.

Not long before this event, two of Suowari’s monumental drawings were featured at a recent international group exhibition held as an ancillary event of the West African Economic Summit in Abuja. These works combine meticulous pen drawings with Afro-urban elements, painted in vivid acrylic primary colours that pulse with the rhythm of her inner warmth.

Enhanced by fabrics that add a tactile quality, these artworks showcase Suowari’s unique style. Her sprawling masterpieces, some stretching over ten feet wide, explore themes of identity, culture, and the universal language of the body. With each stroke of her pen, the University of Port Harcourt fine art graduate weaves rich, layered narratives that transcend technical virtuosity, transporting viewers to a world of vibrant colours and textures. As a result, her art conjures powerful emotions that linger long after the viewer has walked away, leaving an indelible impression on their subconscious – an impact that proclaims her skill and artistry, earning her the nickname “Queen of the Ballpoint Pen,” a title that seems increasingly apt as her global recognition grows.

Her rising star status was further evident on May 20, when Suowari joined four other esteemed speakers at the World Bank Group Youth Summit 2025’s plenary session, held at the World Bank headquarters in Washington, D.C. The summit’s theme, “New Horizons: Youth-Led Innovation for a Livable Planet,” underscored the pivotal role young innovators play in shaping a sustainable future. 

In the session “Creative Industries as a Driver of Economic Resilience: Youth Innovation in Arts, Media, and Fashion,” Suowari shared insights with industry leaders, including Germán Cufré, Global Manager of Digital Infrastructure Investments and Creative Industries at IFC; Farida Raafat, CEO and founder of DALYA NYC & Two Eighty-Four Agency; Maryam Bukar Hassan, founder and award-winning poetvocate of True My Voice; and Piyusha Khot, Innovation Lab Co-Lead for the WBG Youth Summit 2025. This opportunity showcased her expertise and reinforced her position as a leader in her field.

As her global profile continues to rise, Suowari’s achievements have been recognised by prominent organisations. She was named one of the Most Influential People of African Descent (MIPAD) in 2025, a notable honour that reflects her impact. MIPAD shines a light on individuals of African descent who are making a difference, and it’s about time their efforts are recognised. Additionally, Suowari was recognised by the Global Arts in Medicine Fellowship (GAIMF) in 2025, which focuses on the intersection of art and medicine, highlighting the ways in which creativity can heal and bring people together. These accolades are a fitting tribute to her dedication and talent.

Suowari’s artistic talent has garnered widespread recognition, with features in prominent media outlets like CNN, Forbes Africa, and Great Big Story. Her captivating short film, “Of Lines and Layers,” earned an AMVCA nomination, further underscoring her creative genius. 

A pivotal moment in her career came in 2018 when Avant Gallery in the U.S. began exclusively representing her work, propelling her art to a global audience. Since then, her work has been shown in esteemed locations worldwide, including Art Miami, the World Trade Center, Prizm Art Fair, London, Paris, Lagos, and Abuja. 

To think it all began with modest beginnings! From there, she rose to international acclaim by honing her craft with the ballpoint pen, transforming it into a powerful tool for self-expression. Her large-scale works are a stunning reflection of her creativity and skill, capturing the essence of human experience with remarkable depth. As she once shared with CNN, “I like to look at each stroke as a human experience… the gathering and layering of all the strokes create the person and their character.” 

This approach infuses her art with a visceral quality, inviting viewers to connect with the emotions and stories behind each piece. By capturing people in vulnerable or contemplative states, her portraits reveal an honesty that transcends words. Her study of body language and subliminal behavior has given her a unique insight into the human experience, allowing her to create art that resonates deeply with audiences. As she shared with Arise News in 2022, her art is driven by two key goals: helping people connect with their true identity and live authentically, and reminding artists and audiences alike that creativity knows no bounds.

 Suowari’s artistic journey really began at the tender age of five, when she first discovered her passion for drawing. Encouraged by her mother, she explored various creative outlets, including dance, poetry, and painting. This early foundation laid the groundwork for her multidisciplinary approach, which she has since honed into “The Jacqueline Suowari Experience”. 

While her path to recognition was not without its challenges, Jacqueline’s perseverance ultimately paid off. Her ability to convey raw emotion through her art has resonated deeply with audiences, who, as she notes, “could feel the honesty in my strokes”. 

Beyond her fine art practice, Suowari is a dedicated advocate for mental wellness, identity, and youth development through art. Her collaborations with NGOs, cultural bodies, and international organisations have leveraged her platform to raise awareness about critical issues and drive meaningful change.