TAFETA SCOPE BASEL 2017
Niyi Olagunju b. 1981, Sagamu, Nigeria Lives & works in London
Adeniyi ‘Niyi’ Olagunju holds a National Diploma in General Art from Yaba College of Technology, Lagos and a BA Fine Arts (Hons) degree from St. Anne’s College, University of Oxford, UK with concentrations in Art History, Studio Art and Visual Theory. He was one of the privileged few to benefit from the Oxford University Scholarship between 2006 – 2009. He then went on to Texas Christian University (“TCU”) in Fort Worth, Texas, USA where he obtained a MA Fine Arts with specialisation in Sculpture.
Prior to his degree in Oxford, Niyi served with the British Army from 2002-2006, with service postings in Basra, Iraq & Northern Ireland. A practicing studio artist with exhibitions accross three continents, from 2011 to late 2015, he served as a Special Assistant to the Honourable Minister of State, FCT, Nigeria where he was tasked with the responsibility of formulating and implementing Social Development initiatives to strengthen the FCT’s Arts & Culture commitment.
TAFETA SCOPE BASEL 2017
I was at SCOPE art fair in Basel and saw Niyi’s artwork EKPIRI inside the TAFETA gallery booth and had to know more about it. I am so happy that I can share his story and work with you.
Ekpiri
“the first time I saw ekpiri seeds was during the Ofala festival in Onitsha. Dancers and performers would use them as percussion instruments during the annual celebrations.
I’ve always loved the art of joining one thing to another or of creating something new from objects that had a different function or purpose. The vision for my latest series is to take something small—the ekpiri seed pods —and create a piece that’s over 8 feet tall. It’s an ongoing investigation into the connection between culture and visual art. How Igbo traditional musical instruments fit into my artistic conversation.”
Adeniyi Olagunju February, 2017
TAFETA SCOPE BASEL 2017
Adeniyi ‘Niyi’ Olagunju’s CV
1981 Sagamu, Nigeria
Education
2011 MFA, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas, USA
2009 BFA Fine Art, University of Oxford
2000 National Diploma in General Art, Yaba College of Technology, Lagos Nigeria
Selected Exhibitions
2017 1:54 Contemporary Art Fair, New York NY
2017 Niyi Olagunju | Newish
2016 1:54 Contemporary Art Fair, Somerset House, London
2016 African Art: The Market Now, JP Morgan, Canary Wharf, London
2016 Enwonwu & Olagunju, TAFETA, London UK
2016 1:54 Contemporary Art Fair, Pioneer Works, Brooklyn New York NY
2011 MULTIPLE BARTER: The house has fallen, Gallery at TCU, Fort Worth TX
2011 The Hand That Feeds Me: TCU/MFA/500X, 500X Gallery, Dallas, Texas
2010 Africa Art Now: Contemporary Art from Africa and the African Diaspora, London
2010 Structures of Trade, FRED London
2010 “Transmission”, Fort Worth Contemporary Arts, Fort Worth, Texas, USA.
2009 Showdown, 414, Fort Worth Texas, USA
2009 Degree Show, Oxford, UK.
2008 20 Eventi, Poggio Moiano, Sabina, Italy
2008 Box Ladder, Modern Art Oxford, UK.
2007 My Culture, Morgan Stanley HQ, London,UK.
2007 The journey so far, Mary Ogilvie Gallery, Oxford, UK
1999 ADSA 99, Yusuf Grillo Gallery, Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, Nigeria
Awards/Achievement
2011 Outstanding Student Achievement in Contemporary Sculpture Award, ISC, New Jersey 2007 Outstanding Achievement in photography, International Society Photographer
2006 Winner of the Oxford University Photography Societys annual Competition.
2004 Military Medal: OSM Northern Ireland Medal 2004
2003 Military Medal: ODM Iraq Medal
2003 Membership and Affiliation
Nigeria Leadership Initiative (Associate) Society of Nigerian Artists (S.N.A) Royal Engineer Association
TAFETA SCOPE BASEL 2017
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
Ayo Adeyinka // TAFETA
47 – 50 Margaret Street London W1W 8SB
+44 7811 435 626
ayo @ tafeta.com
www.tafeta.com
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