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Olagunju, Niyi

Born 1981 in Sagamu, Nigeria
Lives and works in Abuja, Nigeria and London, UK

Niyi Olagunju, Baga Nimba Purple Chrome, 2020, Chrome plated resin, 138 × 46 × 60 cm. Courtesy of TAFETA 

Niyi Olagunju’s contemporary appropriation of traditional African sculptures continues his exploration of global trade and, in his words: ‘the absolute commoditisation of everything’. The sculptures, which are usually exhibited alongside preparatory sketches, are bisected vertically and have their internal surfaces primed and coated in metals mined from the region from which they are originally sourced. The project questions the value system driving the continuing growth in the sale of traditional African artifacts, which although originally made and used for specific long-standing traditional functions, are now ultimately valued according to their provenance and rarity. Olagunju’s use of precious and semiprecious metals lends consideration to the complex relationships that emerge from the exploitation of natural resources on the African continent, and its subsequent effects on communities and their cultural legacies.

A practicing studio artist having had exhibitions globally, his works reside in several private collections Africa, Europe & America. Recently Olagunju’s sculptures were shown as part of Get Up, Stand Up Now, Somerset House, London (2019); and KUBATANA, Vestfossen Kunstlabratorium, Oslo (2019). His work was been recently acquired at TEFAF Maastricht 2020 by the House of the European History in Brussel, Belgium.

Selected Artists

Pedro Pires

Ozioma Onuzulike

Alexis Peskine

Adegboyega Adesina

LR Vandy

Cameron Platter

Tegene Kunbi

Option Nyahunzvi

Artists 2022

  • A

    • Abdoulaye Konaté
    • Aboudia
    • Abu Bakarr Mansaray
    • Adegboyega Adesina
    • Adelaide Damoah
    • Adjani Okpu-Egbe
    • Admire Kamudzengerere
    • Aïcha Snoussi
    • Ajarb Bernard Ategwa
    • Alexis Peskine
    • Amani Bodo
    • Ambrose Rhapsody Murray
    • Amina Agueznay
    • Amogelang Maepa
    • Ange Dakouo
    • Angèle Etoundi Essamba
    • Arébénor Basséne
    • Asemahle Ntlonti
    • Athenkosi Kwinana
    • Athi-Patra Ruga
    • Atong Atem
    • Atsoupé
    • Aurelino dos Santos
    • Austin Uzor
    • Auudi Dorsey
    • Ayanda Mabulu
    • Ayrson Heráclito
  • B

    • Barthélémy Toguo
    • Basil Kincaid
    • Béchir Boussandel
    • Ben Orkin
    • Bertina Lopes
    • Bunmi Agusto
  • C

    • Cameron Platter
    • Cara Nahaul
    • Charlene Komuntale
    • Chris Soal
    • Clay Apenouvon
    • Collins Obijiaku
    • Cow Mash
    • Cristiano Mangovo
    • Crystal Yayra Anthony
  • D

    • David Olatoye
    • Dawit Adnew
    • Demarco Mosby
    • Deniz Pasha
    • Didier Viodé
    • Donald Wasswa
  • E

    • Eddy Kamuanga Ilunga
    • Ernest Dükü
    • Esther Mahlangu
    • Everlyn Nicodemus
  • F

    • Famakan Magassa
    • Fares Thabet
    • Fatiha Zemmouri
    • Francisco Vidal
    • Franco Ndiba
  • G

    • Gary March
    • Ghizlane Sahli
    • Gonçalo Mabunda
    • Gor Soudan
  • H

    • Hana Yilma Godine
    • Hanien Conradie
    • Hassan Hajjaj
    • Henry ‘Mzili’ Mujunga
  • I

    • Ibrahim El-Salahi
    • Isaac Zavale
    • Isabelle D.
    • Isshaq Ismail
  • J

    • Jan Wade
    • Joël Andrianomearisoa
    • Joël Bigaignon
    • Johanna Mirabel
    • Johnson Weree
    • José Adário
  • K

    • Kaloki Nyamai
    • Katlego Tlabela
    • Kenrick McFarlane
    • Khadija Jayi
  • L

    • Lakwena Maciver
    • Lavar Munroe
    • Leila Rose Fanner
    • Leslie Amine
    • LR Vandy
  • M

    • M’barek Bouhchichi
    • M0XC4
    • Malek Gnaoui
    • Manel Ndoye
    • Manyaku Mashilo
    • Mbaye Babacar Diouf
    • Mestre Didi
    • Miguel Angel Payano Jr.
    • Moufouli Bello
    • Mulambö
  • N

    • Nada Elkalaawy
    • Nadia Ayari
    • Nidhal Chamekh
    • Nnenna Okore
  • O

    • Odette Graskie
    • Odinakachi Okoroafor
    • Omar Mahfoudi
    • Onyis Martin
    • Option Nyahunzvi
    • Ozioma Onuzulike
  • P

    • Patrick Bongoy
    • Pedro Neves
    • Pedro Pires
    • Prince Gyasi
  • R

    • Renan Aguena
    • René Tavares
    • Richard Atugonza
    • Robert Peterson
    • Roland Dorcély
    • Romuald Hazoumè
    • Ryan Cosbert
  • S

    • Safaa Erruas
    • Salah Elmur
    • Salifou Lindou
    • Sikelela Owen
    • Slimen Elkamel
    • Sokari Douglas Camp
    • Sola Olulode
    • Souleimane Barry
    • Stan Squirewell
    • Stephané E. Conradie
    • Sthenjwa Luthuli
  • T

    • Tahir Karmali
    • Tegene Kunbi
    • Tewodros Hagos
    • Thameur Mejri
    • Themba Khumalo
    • Troy Makaza
    • Turiya Magadlela
  • W

    • Wura-Natasha Ogunji
  • Y

    • Yasmeen Abdullah
    • Yveline Tropéa
  • Z

    • Zak Ové
    • Zana Masombuka
    • Zanele Muholi

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