Gbolahan Ayoola

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Gbolahan Ayoola
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Born (1977-08-11) August 11, 1977 (age 46)
Ibadan, Nigeria
NationalityNigerian
Alma materObafemi Awolowo University
OccupationArtist

Gbolahan Adetomiwo Ayoola (HRH), (descendant of Obatala[1]) is a Lagos-based award-winning artist[2]. Known for the personal, emotive, deep and spiritual nature of his art, employing symbols and signs[3] inspired by his African heritage, Ayoola’s work combines the figurative and the abstract[4] and draws on his own dreams and memories of racial tensions, as well as the history of Nigerian culture[5][6].

His series, ‘BlueWoman’, has been heralded for its creativity and depth in the advocacy for human values[7]. Ayoola’s abstract expressionist[8] and symbolic compositions are created using acrylics, pastels, pencil and charcoal[9].

Early life and Education

Ayoola (born August 11, 1977 at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria) studied for a Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts Education from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun state, Nigeria between 1998 and 2002 and later went on to partake in a one year studio residency at the Château d'Orquevaux Artists & Writers Residency in Champagne-Ardenne, France with other illustrious artists like Chief Tola Wewe, one of Nigeria’s foremost international artists.

Career

Ayoola’s art features a variety of mediums, including painting, sculpture, mixed media, and digital art. As the coronavirus pandemic began in April 2020, Ayoola started a series of large-scale paintings, named, We are Reagents — and painted in response to the growing social and political crisis[5]. That series was on view at Nigeria’s four-day international art fair – Art X Lagos in 2021[10]. His other works have also been a part of numerous exhibitions at different times, including:

2023 Oda Art Gallery, Lagos[11]

2023 Alexis Gallery, Lagos[12]

2022 Art X, Lagos[13]

2022 ChilliArts Project, London UK

2021 Art X, Lagos[10]

2020 What is drawing? - Kanbi Contemporary, London, UK[14]

2018 Journey to Mastery - Didi Museum, Lagos, Nigeria[15]

2017 AYOOLA - Rele Gallery, Lagos, Nigeria[16]

2014 Metal - Face and Cocks - Signature - Beyond Gallery, Lagos, Nigeria[17]

2011 The Last Pictures Show - Gondwana, Paris, France

2011 Arc Gallery - London, UK[18][19]

2010 The Last Pictures Show VII - Gondwana, Douala, Cameroon[20]

2008 Unbreakable Nigerian Spirit - Galerie 23, Amsterdam, Holland[21]

2008 The World Bank Africa Now - Washington DC, U.S.A.[3]

Notable Projects

In April 2023, Ayoola’s “BlueWoman” series was acquired and on display as sports giant Adidas announced the opening of its first flagship store in Lagos, Nigeria[22]. Two years earlier, the Glenfiddich Whisky brand had selected Ayoola among “the world’s most exciting artists from 19 countries” to collaborate in the creation of a cross-cultural re-imagination of a new brand addition bottle design for one of the company’s whiskeys.[23] The art he designed for Glenfiddich was later auctioned as a part of limited edition-signed sleeves, and proceeds were donated to local art foundations in Nigeria like African Art Foundation and the Ben Enwonwu Foundation.

In December of the same year, Ayoola was among shortlisted mural artists, like Kingsley Effiong and Perpetual Cyril[24] whom Coca-Cola engaged to paint monumental wall murals on key sites across all regions in Nigeria, to provide comfort and hope to society during the pandemic[25].

Recognitions

On the occasion of Nigeria’s Independence Day celebration in 2013, Ayoola was honoured to present his BlueWoman series at the Nigerian High Commissioner’s residence in Loresho, Nairobi[26]. On the occasion of Queen Elizabeth II’s birthday in 2015, he also presented a series of BlueWoman paintings including the portrait of the Queen at the British High Commission in Lagos, Nigeria[27]. In August 2017, he collaborated with Funmi Iyanda at the Oya Chronicles exhibition in London, UK[28].

Awards

2023: The Denis Diderot A-i-R Grant

2009: Winner, National Art Competition organized by the Nigeria Breweries and African Artists' Foundation, Heineken International, Nigeria.

2007: Catalonia painting was collected by the National Gallery of Art, Nigeria[29].[30]

2007: Nigeria Art Master Award, Embassy of Greece in Nigeria.[31]

Publications

Ayoola’s work has been featured in prominent art publications including:

▪ Ake Review Volume 7, 2020

▪ Contemporary Nigerian Art in Lagos Private Collections; New Trees in an Old Forest, Published by Bookcraft, 2012

▪ 101 Nigerian Artists. Chukuemeka Bosah and George Edozie, published by Ben Bosah books, 2010

▪ IJINLE, Aisha and Gbenga Oyebode collection by Adenrele Sonariwo.

Artworks from Ayoola’s collection have also been featured in a series of notable BIPOC-lead films such as Ava Duvernay's "When They See Us," "Harlem," starring Meagan Good, as well as "Hit and Run". His work, Bluewoman, was used to symbolize the strength of a woman's impact in defining moments.

References

  1. ↑ Nigeria, Guardian (2018-12-23). "As Apetu, I will attract investments to Ipetumodu – Prince Omogbolahon Ayoola". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. Retrieved 2023-05-24.
  2. ↑ "Ayoola Gbolahan: contemporary Nigerian Painter, Sculptor - SINGULART". www.singulart.com. Retrieved 2023-05-24.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Galvani, Marina. Africa Art Catalogue; World Bank Art Program. p. 83.
  4. ↑ "Glenfiddich Launches Global Art Platform, The Grande Composition – THISDAYLIVE". www.thisdaylive.com. Retrieved 2023-05-24.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Gbolahan Ayoola at Art X Lagos: Arts Intel Report". airmail.news. 2021-11-04. Retrieved 2023-05-24.
  6. ↑ "Ayoola Gbolahan – African Art Wave". 2021-01-29. Retrieved 2023-05-24.
  7. ↑ "All a woman needs". Nation. 2020-07-05. Retrieved 2023-05-24.
  8. ↑ "'AYOOLA', an exhibition of abstract art, to show at Rele Gallery". TheCable Lifestyle. 2017-06-07. Retrieved 2023-05-24.
  9. ↑ "Ayoola Gbolahan: contemporary Nigerian Painter, Sculptor - SINGULART". www.singulart.com. Retrieved 2023-05-24.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "2021 — artxlagos". artxlagos.com. Retrieved 2023-05-24.
  11. ↑ "Exhibitions – Oda Art Gallery". Retrieved 2023-05-24.
  12. ↑ "Alexis Galleries | Artists, Art for Sale, and Contact Info | Artsy". www.artsy.net. Retrieved 2023-05-24.
  13. ↑ "2022 — artxlagos". artxlagos.com. Retrieved 2023-05-24.
  14. ↑ "The exhibition What is drawing? | Kanbi Contemporary | Artsper (10074)". Artsper | Œuvres d'Art Contemporain en Vente | L'art Vous Appartient. Retrieved 2023-05-24.
  15. ↑ Nigeria, Guardian (2019-05-03). "The Journey to Mastery Exhibition". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. Retrieved 2023-05-24.
  16. ↑ "'AYOOLA', an exhibition of abstract art, to show at Rele Gallery". TheCable Lifestyle. 2017-06-07. Retrieved 2023-05-24.
  17. ↑ Ajao, Adewole (25 May 2014). "Nigeria: Engaging Emotions at Metal, Faces and Cocks". All Africa. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  18. ↑ Sowole, Tajudeen (8 August 2014). "Nigerian Artists, New Galleries Head for Global Art Market". All Africa. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  19. ↑ "Small is Beautiful - [Miniature Art Fair] - Art Fair at arc Gallery in London". ArtRabbit. Retrieved 2023-05-24.
  20. ↑ Uwagboe, Bob-Nosa (2018). Obituary. Nigeria: GNO Studios. p. 43.
  21. ↑ Ayoola, absolutearts com, Gbolahan. "Gbolahan Ayoola Free Artist Website". absolutearts.com. Retrieved 2023-05-24.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  22. ↑ Abimbola, Oluwakemi (2023-04-17). "Adidas opens Lagos flagship store". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 2023-05-24.
  23. ↑ "Glenfiddich Launches Global Art Platform, The Grande Composition – THISDAYLIVE". www.thisdaylive.com. Retrieved 2023-05-24.
  24. ↑ "Premiumtimesng". www.premiumtimesng.com. Retrieved 2023-05-24.
  25. ↑ Obi, Daniel (2021-01-12). "Coca-cola to unveil wall murals across in celebration of Nigeria's strength, resilience". Businessday NG. Retrieved 2023-05-24.
  26. ↑ "All a woman needs". Nation. 2020-07-05. Retrieved 2023-05-24.
  27. ↑ "Female Representation in Contemporary African Art". Google Arts & Culture. Retrieved 2023-05-24.
  28. ↑ BellaNaija.com (2017-08-09). "#OyaChronicles: In Conversation with my Mother featuring Funmi Iyanda & Ayoola Gbolahan | August 27th". BellaNaija. Retrieved 2023-05-24.
  29. ↑ Ayoola, absolutearts com, Gbolahan. "Gbolahan Ayoola Free Artist Website". absolutearts.com. Retrieved 2023-05-24.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  30. ↑ "Ayoola Gbolahan - Artist". www.coronation.ng. Retrieved 2023-05-24.
  31. ↑ "Contemporary African Art Takes Los Angeles". www.theluxedigest.com. Retrieved 2023-05-24.

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