Olu Ajayi | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 18, 1963 |
| Died | May 23, 2025 (aged 61) Lagos, Nigeria |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
| Occupation(s) | Professional artist, painter, cartoonist, and art reviewer |
| Years active | 40 |
Olu Ajayi (18 August 1963 - 23 May 2025) was a Nigerian professional artist, painter, cartoonist, and art reviewer, with over 40 years experience in studio practice and Art Administration. He was a chairman of the Society of Nigerian Artists, Lagos State chapter [1] and a trustee of the Guild of Professional Artists of Nigeria (GFA). Olu Ajayi was also a board member of the Visual Art Society of Nigeria (VASON), and a Fellow of the Society of Nigerian Artists. He was listed in the Who is Who in Art compendium, as well as being honoured as a Top 100 Artist.
During his career he held exhibitions in Nigeria, South Africa, USA, UK, Canada, and other European countries. He also sold his art in Burnham's Auction House. [2]
Olu was born on 18 August 1963 [3] and was a native of Ososo, in Akoko Edo LGA of Edo State. [1] He graduated from the Auchi Polytechnic in 1984 with a HND in Fine Arts. [4] 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.[ citation needed ]
Olu Ajayi was one of the early pioneers of water colour paintings in Nigeria. [4] 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 [4] and his works had been commissioned work for several institutions including commercial banks, churches, galleries and blue-chip companies. [3]
His works had been exhibited in Nigeria, Africa and Europe and served as a consultant across local and international art platforms. [5] 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. [3]
Olu Ajayi was inspired by the 1980s art scene, Adolph Frederick Reinhardt and Salvador Dalí. [4] He prefered working on female forms using bold colors representing pseudo human figures caught in candid positions. [5]
Market by the Palace [6] (1999) an oil on canvas painting was his highest grossing exhibited work sold at Arthouse Contemporary Limited in 2008. [7]
Olu Ajayi died on 23 May 2025 at St. Nicholas Hospital in Lagos, Nigeria. [2]