Olu Ajayi

Olu Ajayi is a Nigerian painter, cartoonist, and art reviewer. He was a past president of the Society of Nigerian Artists, Lagos chapter[1] and is a founding member of Guild of Professional Fine Artists. He is featured on the Who’s who in Nigeria online biography.

Early life

Olu was born on August 18, 1963,[2] and is a native in 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.

Career

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 an 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

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

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
  1. "Covid-19: Paintings have to go on - The Nation Nigeria". Latest Nigeria News, Nigerian Newspapers, Politics. 2020-06-07. Retrieved 2020-09-19.
  2. Udo, Mary (2017-02-28). "AJAYI, Olu". Biographical Legacy and Research Foundation. Retrieved 2020-09-19.
  3. "Olu Ajayi: Colouring the view". WELCOME TO LUXURY REPORTERS. 2015-10-05. Retrieved 2020-09-19.
  4. "Olu Ajayi". Bloom Art Lagos. Retrieved 2020-09-19.
  5. "Ajayi Olu | MARKET BY THE PALACE (1999) | MutualArt". www.mutualart.com. Retrieved 2020-09-19.
  6. "Ajayi, Olu | Biography". www.mutualart.com. Retrieved 2020-09-19.
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