Olumide Egunlae

Born in 1968 in Ado-Ekiti Nigeria, Olumide discovered his love of art at a young age through his father and Uncle (Prof. Michael Olusegun Adejemilua) and his "Ona Art Movement"..he was later influenced by his painting lecturer Prof. Tola Wewe and classmate namesake Dr. Olumide Ayeni. Following his natural artistic instinct, he acquired techniques and preferences which he relates through his work. After 20 years as a Visual Art Teacher, Olumide returned to his easel and brushes on a full-time basis. His personality is a big part of his work, and as he starts on a new painting he embarks on a personal journey through a host of emotions, all carefully considered and expressed through both colour and form, offering the viewer a direct visual connection to his mindset.

Education:

Graduated with Bachelor of Art and Education - Fine Art (B.A.Ed) in May 1991 from the Federal University of Education, Ondo, Nigeria.

He obtained his Masters in Divinity (M.Div) in 2012 and has just completed a Doctoral Degree in Expository Communication (D.ExCom) all on Scholarship from The Faith Seminary Tacoma, Washington, USA.

He is the CEO/FOUNDER of The Adonai Art Foundation. The Gambia (AFAG) a licensed Charitable Organization/NGO

He is a member of the Society of Gambian Artist and a member of the Rotary Club of Banjul

My paintings are dialogues of my mind as viewed, perceived or seen from things, lifestyles of the people and the worlds around me. When I captured the images in my conscious mind, I find a special way to analyze and engage those images carefully into my canvas. Through this free form approach to my paintings, I explore the use of balance, lines, shapes, colours and heavy textures and give a lot of chances and freedom to experiment with my colours which results in real unconscious juxtapositions of colours and other elements in the whole work.

List of past exhibitions:

• 1998 “ALL FOR PEACE” GROUP EXHIBITION, BANJUL THE THE GAMBIA
• 2000 “ABOVE THE SKY” GROUP EXHIBITION, BANJUL THE GAMBIA
• 2012 “TAKING IT TO THE STREET” SOLO EXHIBITION, BANJUL THE GAMBIA
• 2012 - “OPPORTUNITY” GROUP EXHIBITION, BANJUL THE GAMBIA
• 2013 - “WAKING THE SPIRIT” GROUP EXHIBITION GAMBIA
• 2015 - “USA BIRTHDAY” JULY 4TH TO 14TH 2015 SOLO EXHIBITION – USA EMBASSY, BANJUL THE GAMBIA
• 2016 - “ PRESIDENT EXHIBITION FOR 3 ARTIST ” GROUP EXHIBITION, THE GAMBIA

List of past and present galleries artist is working with:

• Saatchi art Gallery
• Absolute arts Gallery
• Fine Art America Gallery
• True African Art Gallery
• Rise Art Gallery
• Jose Art Gallery

List of prizes and recognitions earned:

• 2nd prize (silver medalist) Shankar’s International Art Competitions 1985
• 1st prize Ekiti Central Local Government Art Competition 1984
• 1st Prize Borno State National Youth Service Corp 1992
• 1st Prize The best Visual Arts Teacher in The Gambia 2004
• Commissioned by the Gambian Government, Banks, and Embassies in The Gambia.
• The Best and the most expensive abstract painter in The Gambia 2019