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Olu Ajayi

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Olu Ajayi
Born (1963-08-18) 18 August 1963 (age 61)
NationalityNigerian
Occupation(s)Professional artist, painter, cartoonist, and art reviewer
Years active40

Olu Ajayi (born 18 August 1963) is a Nigerian professional artist, painter, cartoonist, and art reviewer, with over 40 years experience in studio practice and Art Administration. He is a past chairman of the Society of Nigerian Artists, Lagos State chapter[1] and is a trustee of the Guild of Professional Artists of Nigeria (GFA). Olu Ajayi is also a board member of the Visual Art Society of Nigeria (VASON), and a Fellow of the Society of Nigerian Artists. He is listed in the Who is Who in Art compendium, as well as being honoured as a Top 100 Artist.

He has held exhibitions in Nigeria, South Africa, USA, UK, Canada, and other European countries. He has also sold in Burnham's Auction House.

Early life

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Olu was born on 18 August 1963[2] and is a native of Ososo, in Akoko Edo LGA of Edo State.[1] He graduated from the Auchi Polytechnic in 1984 with a HND in Fine Arts.[3] Olu Ajayi illustrated Xanti by Neville Ukoli, and the Aboki Comic Strip of Defunct The Sunday Observer Newspapers. He was also the in-house cartoonist of Defunct The Nigerian Observer Newspapers.[citation needed]

Career

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Olu Ajayi is one of the early pioneers of water colour paintings in Nigeria.[3] After becoming a member of the Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA), he rose to become the President of the Lagos Chapter between 2008 – 2014 and instituted the October Rain and Art Café events that marks SNA's yearly programmes.[1] He was also the founding member of the Guild of Professional Fine Artists[3] and his works had been commissioned work for several institutions including commercial banks, churches, galleries and blue-chip companies.[2]

His works had been exhibited in Nigeria, Africa and Europe and served as a consultant across local and international art platforms.[4] He has reviewed Funnso Ogunlade's "A Promise of Harvest”, Humphrey Bekaren's "A New Pride”, Abraham Ogbodo's "Painting a New Order", Chinwe Uwatse's "A Blaze of Colour", and "Eccentric Paintings" by the Sunday Times Newspapers, Lagos.[2]

Style

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Olu Ajayi is inspired by the 1980s art scene, Adolph Frederick Reinhardt and Salvador Dalí.[3] He prefers working on the female forms using bold colors representing pseudo human figures caught in candid positions.[4]

Notable work

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Market by the Palace[5] (1999) an oil on canvas painting was his highest grossing exhibited work sold at Arthouse Contemporary Limited in 2008.[6]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Covid-19: Paintings have to go on - The Nation Nigeria". Latest Nigeria News, Nigerian Newspapers, Politics. 7 June 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  2. ^ a b c Udo, Mary (28 February 2017). "AJAYI, Olu". Biographical Legacy and Research Foundation. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d "Olu Ajayi: Colouring the view". WELCOME TO LUXURY REPORTERS. 5 October 2015. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Olu Ajayi". Bloom Art Lagos. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  5. ^ "Ajayi Olu | MARKET BY THE PALACE (1999) | MutualArt". www.mutualart.com. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  6. ^ "Ajayi, Olu | Biography". www.mutualart.com. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
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