Wole Lagunju

Wole Lagunju, born in 1966, works with manifold ideologies interspersing with formal and chromatic interpretations. He practices oil acrylic and ink to render portraits, figures and singular narratives with psychedelic backdrops. The illuminating palette draws us deep into the world of lushful mindscapes. The paintings are multifaceted, patterned and filled with an enigmatic essence of growth, change and power.

Lagunju was trained in graphic design at the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria. Specifically, his works are grouped under an art movement called Onaism. The movement  originated at Ife Art School, associated with the philosophy of traditional Yuruba design and culture. Reflecting on the culture, Lagunju paints Gelede masks and Adire fabric in the light of globalisation and post-colonial aspects. He has been a part of several reputed exhibitions nationally and internationally, developing a celebrated image in the art fraternity of the world. His paintings are a part of well-known collections which comprises Leridon Collection and the Fondation d’entreprise Francès. 

Are these renderings of black figures a presentation of worldly dilemma? Or do they disguise the persisting problems of the African diaspora? The subject of the Lagunje paintings derives a quality of constant flux moving between spaces, regions and places. The forms in his paintings belong to the Nigerian style but deviate towards the globalised version of representation. Hence, they carve a singular yet independent identity.

Wole Lagunje lives and works in the United States.