Akingbade Mayowa

Painting, Acrylic on Canvas 108 x 81.3 cm - Next of Kin, 2025

2025

Oluwamayowa Akingbade Michael b(1988), A Nigerian from Ogun State, born in Lagos. In 2013, he received a National Diploma in Art and Industrial Design from Lagos State Polytechnic. After completing his Industry Training Programme (IT) at the Universal Studios of Art, National Theater Lagos, he attained his Higher National Diploma (HND) in Painting at the same institution. He is a young, brilliant, prolific artist experimenting with several media. He has participated in various competitions and exhibitions, winning first place in two of them and third place in another. The Springs in 2014, The Eko Art Expo organized by the Lagos State Government in 2017, the Affordable art auction at Mydrim Gallery, Ado odo art Expo in 2019, miniature art fair organized by Ogrikan Gallery 2019, Experience the 2nd a group show organized by 9 artists at the Kokopelli gallery in 2021, And A better time, a group show at Omaka Gallery in London. He is currently practicing as a full-time studio Artist. Artist Statement My body of work reflects my environment; it emphasizes my past and present, which could lead to the future. I use my art to speak about my experience during my childhood with my relatives and friends, and even in the present, it has been the source of my creation. My works focus on black people as a form of identity as an African, I use figurative and portraiture as a way of expression embedded with a dark hue colour to capture "HumanExcellence" I employed blending and a light brushwork approach to express myself, and I occasionally exploited my current mood to create a painting and my environment reflect in creating my works. Acrylic is a good medium for me to experiment with because I was influenced by several great artists, and I can finish a project with a quick dry effect. To me, my works serve as Freedom, and use the uniqueness of dark color value in their bodies to create human excellence.