Lagos Woman

Born in Lagos in 1982 Olumide is contemporary Nigerian painter and sculptor. He obtained a National Certificate of Education (NCE) in Fine and Applied Art from the Federal College of Education, Akoka Lagos in 2004. In 2008, he obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Art from the prestigious Nsukka Art School of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and in 2012, a Master’s Degree in Visual Art/Art education from the University of Lagos, Akoka. He started out his career as a realistic painter. Over the years, his art has evolved and grown tremendously as he has explored different media, especially plastics, in the creation of sculptures of great quality, beauty and conceptual meanings, showing his versatility as an artist. His works spark imagination and dialogues as they invite viewers to pause think about for a moment about his very creative style of expression. In 2018, the works of Olumide (comprising of paintings and sculptures) were exhibited at Temple Muse, Lagos in a solo-exhibition titled “Connecting the Dots” organized by SMO contemporary. He is a member of the Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA).

The Lagos Woman shows an abstract, yet stylistic portrait of a Yoruba woman created with an interplay of leaves of a plant for aesthetic appreciation. One familiar with crops might want to guess the leaves to be cassava leaves. Olumide uses different shades of red and black colours to clearly define the facial features including the eyes, nose and lips. It is very evident that she is wearing a large head-tie, a component typical of Owambe, party outfits for Lagos women. The whole body seems to be emerging or rising into the dark background of the painting from the right with the leaves giving it a sculptural feel.