Olu Ajayi

Olu was born on August 18, 1963[2] and is 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.[3] 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.

Olu Ajayi is one of the early pioneers of water colour paintings in Nigeria.[3] 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[3] and his works had been commissioned work for several institutions including commercial banks, churches, galleries and blue-chip companies.[2]

His works had been exhibited in Nigeria, Africa and Europe and served as a consultant across local and international art platforms.[4] 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.[2]

Olu Ajayi is inspired by the 1980s art scene, Adolph Frederick Reinhardt and Salvador Dalí.[3] He prefers working on the female forms using bold colors representing pseudo human figures caught in candid positions.[4]

Market by the Palace[5] (1999) an oil on canvas painting was his highest grossing exhibited work sold at Arthouse Contemporary Limited in 2008.[6]

• Profile archive at Who's Who in Nigeria
• Profile at ArtXLagos