Olayikanmi Olawale

Olayikanmi Olawale is a dynamic Nigerian contemporary urban expressionist who has honed his craft through formal training in painting at Yaba College of Technology in Yaba, Lagos.

His artistic process is characterized by its instinctive and organic nature. Olayikanmi's paintings burst forth with energy and vibrancy, emerging from the depths of his uncritical subconscious. His works are a testament to the search for harmony in spontaneity, where feelings take the lead in guiding his creative expression.

Olawale is a versatile mixed-media artist who employs a wide range of tools and materials, including acrylic, charcoal, bar oil, felt-tip markers, and pastels. His expressive style is marked by its dynamic lines, saturated colors, rapid and expressive brushstrokes, and it bears the unmistakable influence of neo-expressionist luminaries such as Jean-Michel Basquiat, George Baselitz, and Richard Prince.

As Olawale himself puts it, "I am happiest when I can immerse myself in the creative world. A meditative space where time stands still. A place where I find comfort, reflect, explore, and connect with my deepest self. My art is always an intuitive process that follows an impulse, embraces the accidental, and is often full of surprises. It is my way of exploring the unspoken complexities of human beings, of life, and of the relationships with ourselves, with others, and with the world that surrounds us."

Through his intuitive and expressive works, Olayikanmi Olawale invites viewers to delve into the uncharted territories of human emotion, introspection, and the intricate web of connections that define our existence.