Art, from its entirety down to the details, tells a story, one that is conveyed through various mediums. Art is serene; art exists in the silence and depth of colors. It projects in the strokes and colourful canvases that the brush leaves as a trail. But that isn’t all that there’s to art. While art can be identified in its calmness or mysteriousness, it thrives in chaos, too. There’s no rule to creating art; it breathes in the rebelliousness of Jean Basquiat’s paintings or the depth of Frida Kahlo’s artworks. But one thing is for sure: art tells a story, it conveys emotions, and that’s all that matters.
While many consider artists for their structured, conventional paintings and drawings, they often disregard the works of artists who have carved their paths in eccentricity. Forgetting that art, while true to the artist, is multidimensional and can be expressed through various mediums.
In this piece, we explore Nigerian art rebels who carved their artistry through unconventional arts and have created masterpieces that have stood the test of time.
Slawn
Born Olaoluwa Akeredolu-Ale, Slawn is one you might call a controversial artist or what Nigerian critics regard as “talentless.” But art can’t be policed, and so Slawn’s Golliwog paintings will continue to thrive, as he continues to be unapologetic about it, from the critically acclaimed “Three Yoruba Brothers” painting sold at Sotheby’s (the UK’s biggest auction house) for £31,750 to the Eziokwu cover art for Nigerian rapper OdumoduBlvck.
While some ascribe the 24-year-old London-based artist and designer’s fame to being a nepo baby, there’s more than meets the eye. Slawn’s “offensive” paintings aren’t just about the final outlook but are a reflection of himself in his paintings.
Over the years, he has collaborated with Skepta, Central Cee, Nike, Emirates FA Cup, Brits Awards, Louis Vuitton, Rolex, and more international brands. But beyond the endorsements and collaborations, Olaolu Slawn’s spray paintings and artwork are here to stay. You may not like them, but that’s his art, and he chooses to be bold about it.
Ayanfe
If you’re still unfamiliar with the multidisciplinary artist Ayanfe Olarinde, perhaps the cover art for Asake’s highly acclaimed Work Of Art album might strike a chord.
While wearing multiple hats as a creative, Ayanfe has notably carved her name within the space with her scribble art that captured attention within and outside Nigeria. She has been featured on notable media outlets, including CNN, BBC Pidgin, Euro news, and RADR Africa. While many lean toward conventional art styles, Ayanfe sticks to scribbling using crooked lines or jaga-jaga as a form of therapy, where she pours out emotions, tells stories, and addresses societal ills.
Not many understand abstract art, especially one that doesn’t follow the rules, but Ayanfe has found her calling in the Jagaism of art.
VOFO
Vanessa Onyinyechukwu Fọláṣadé Ofomata, professionally known as VOFO or VOFOART, is an artist you could liken to the prominent Jean Basquiat.
While laymen might consider their artworks eccentric, “rubbish,” and without depth, VOFO creates masterpieces blending chaos and creativity.
As she fondly refers to herself as the ‘god,’ she centers on neo-expressionism, creating social commentary art saddled with subliminal stories from the world around them. Her mantra is “Till Death Do Us Art,” she believes art in its essence is expression; her expressions of insanity, lust, satire, confusion, or glee are released in charcoal, newspapers, and strawboard mediums.
If Basquiat were a Nigerian, he’d probably be the Benin-bred VOFO, who, through masterfully executed arts, exudes an air of chaotic spontaneity.
As Nigerian artists continue to receive wider acclaim, they defy the norms, creating works of art that stand the test of time as they carve a name for themselves in the industry.
The DIY Collective 
Leave a Reply