Award-winning painter Brixton based artist Abe Odedina will make his British Art Fair debut at London’s Saatchi Gallery this September with Son of the Soil. The exhibition is part of the Fair’s Solo Contemporary showcase, presented by curator Virginia Damtsa in collaboration with The African Art Hub.
Odedina is an architect turned self-taught painter whose work is described as “mesmerising” by The Guardian and hailed as “vivid, layered and deeply human” by Harper’s Bazaar. His work has been shown in the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, the National Portrait Gallery following a Portrait Award nomination for his The Adoration of Frida Kahlo portrait, Somerset House, Carnegie Hall, and commissioned by British film royalty Danny Boyle.
Odedina’s art blends deities, cutting cultural commentary, and vibrant colour inspired by his Nigerian heritage to evoke universal human stories, ancient Yoruba Gods and his relentless fascination with all faiths. “I’ve never met a God I don’t like” says the artist. Instead of a canvas, Odedina paints on board, plywood and materials akin to shop fronts to capture irresistible characters in acrylic.
Inspiration
Odedina’s artworks are a testament to the universality of the human experience, weaving the poetry of life with everyday miracles. Drawing inspiration from Haitian Voodoo practitioners, painters of the Sacred Heart, anonymous African craftsmen, and his daily walks in Brixton, Abe’s work revives and deconstructs classic themes. By blending ancient Greek and Yoruba mythologies with everyday life, he sparks dynamic narratives that bridge different eras and cultures.
From Architecture to Art
Abe Odedina (born 1960, Ibadan, Nigeria. Lives between London and Salvador Bahia) embarked on his artistic journey after a successful career in architecture, beginning his painting career on a transformative trip to Brazil in 2007. His work is characterized by its exploration of common humanity through figurative propositions, reflecting his ideas, experiences, and emotions. His unique sense of colour is influenced by his Nigerian heritage, his life in London and his time spent in Salvador de Bahia. Odedina, in collaboration with The Underground Museum, Los Angeles received the 2017 Ellsworth Kelly Award from the Foundation of Contemporary Arts, New York.
Son of the Soil – Abe Odedina presented by The African Art Hub and Virginia Damtsa
The British Art Fair, 26- 29 September 2024, Saatchi Gallery, Duke of York’s HQ, King’s Road, London SW3 4RY
For more information visit www.virginiavisualarts.com
