Chromista's Chelsea Odufu Talks Directing With Spirit, Style, and Soul

The Chromista director chats about creating projects that are emotive, visually distinct, and aligned with the brand without compromising vision, as part of LBB’s The Directors series.

Chelsea Odufu is a director and multidisciplinary artist known for crafting bold, culturally-resonant commercial and experiential work. She has directed campaigns for brands such as Dr. Martens, Target, Chase Sapphire, Chanel, Bose, and Walgreens, bringing a cinematic eye and deep storytelling sensibility to every project.

Rooted in her background as a visual artist working across film, sculpture, and installation, Chelsea approaches branded work with a distinctive aesthetic and emotional depth.

Her fine art practice, which has been exhibited at institutions including the Los Angeles Contemporary Art Museum, The Shed, Dakar Biennale, Christie’s London, Seattle Art Museum, and the Harvey Gantt Center, fuels her ability to build immersive worlds that are both conceptually rich and visually striking.

Whether creating a film, commercial, or a full-scale brand experience, her work always centres story, soul, and style.

LBB> What elements of a script set one apart from another, and what sort of scripts get you excited to shoot them?

Chelsea> For me, it’s always about the feeling underneath the script. A great one speaks through the page – it pulses with rhythm, imagery, and soul. If it has a clear sense of world, tone, and emotional stakes, I’m in.Scripts that feel alive and allow for layered visual interpretation or world-building are what excite me most. I’m drawn to scripts that carry a heartbeat – ones that don’t just tell a story, but vibrate with cultural, emotional, or spiritual texture.

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