I was born in Iseyin, Oyo State, Nigeria, my
first exposure to the arts and crafts that would
become my life's work came at the hands of my
grandmother. A master in Indigo processes and
decorative sewing, she taught me from the age of
seven while passing along the rich cultural
history behind these skills. The Yoruba
civilization of Nigeria has been known for
producing superior artisans since the tenth
century and has retained this ability through
educational storytelling in the oral tradition.
Their depiction of true to life figures and
situations in art predates their European
counterparts by 400 years. With a solid
foundation in Yoruba aesthetic, I began a Western
style education through primary, secondary,
Government Technical College and the Institute of Management Technology in Nigeria, toward a degree in Fine Art. Upon graduation, I started as an apprentice at the famed Nike Center for Art and
Culture in Osogbo, Osun State. Here I concentrated in the disciplines of wood sculpture, reverse appliqué, embroidery and quilting. At Nike, I changed my focus from Western European modernism to develop my own interpretation of traditional arts, such as using batik on rice paper and Fabric. After sharpening my skills at Nike and also mastering traditional Yoruba dance, drum language and fire rituals, I decided to educate others. I focus primarily on painting and sculpture, but also hold educational workshops on the Yoruba civilization. I also run the gallery business. Established in Nigeria, I began to travel to different cities worldwide sharing the beauty of my culture through personal interpretation in painting and performance.
I have toured the United States extensively, holding workshops in schools, universities and community centers, I apply wax on the T-shirt (100% cotton) with Foam/Brush and I used Procion fiber-reactive dyes with urea, soda ash fixer and synthrapol dye detergent, I have used many different kinds of dyes, I believe Procion Fiber Reactive dyes is the best! My work can currently be seen in several local shops and galleries.