The Nigerian art scene is thriving, with emerging talents making waves. One such standout is Adetola Odunlami, a self-taught artist preparing for his first exhibition, SOUGH, set to open on Monday, October 28, and run through November 4, 2024, at Esoteric Design in Victoria Island, Lagos.
Odunlami’s journey to art is as unconventional as it is inspiring. Once a fashion designer and then a construction professional, he found his creative calling in painting, blending form and structure from his past experiences into his work.
In SOUGH, Odunlami uses acrylics to explore vacant spaces, viewing silence as a force filled with stories and latent potential. “Fashion taught me form, construction gave me structure, and now painting allows me to explore the spaces in between,” he said, reflecting on how these experiences shape his work.
Influenced by Nigerian and international artists like Duke Asidere, Abiodun Olaku, and George Condo, Odunlami’s art bridges cultural divides while honoring his heritage. His mother’s collection of antique ivory art cultivated his love for the past, which he now fuses with a contemporary lens.
“In emptiness, I find fullness,” Odunlami shares. “Each vacant room, each silent corridor tells a story. Through SOUGH, I invite viewers to listen to these unspoken narratives.”
This debut exhibition signals the arrival of a fresh, bold voice in Lagos’ art landscape, one that seamlessly merges architectural precision with the fluidity of fashion design.
