Photo of artist Ayanfe Olarinde in her studio. Courtesy of the artist.
OVERVIEW
Ayanfe Olarinde (b. 1996) is a self-taught mixed-media artist based in Lagos, Nigeria. She graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Microbiology from the University of Lagos in 2018. Her artistic practice takes an initial root in her love for scribbling, a process through which she is able to unpack her emotions in a playful and intriguing way, while addressing broader questions that explore themes of self-image, identity-formation, social reality, collective history and mental health.
Olarinde finds harmony in irregular lines, which have become for her a set of skills forged in the heat of frustration, on the path to self-discovery. Through her practice, she transforms these irregular lines into profound symbols, a metaphor she believes is linked to life and its ability to create beauty from imperfection. Positioned as a self-proclaimed explorer, Olarinde’s innate fascination with forms and textures consistently manifests in her mixed-media creations. Her visual language extends to encompass photography and mixed-media collage, with a recurring theme the underlying theme underpinning all her work—the critical examination of societal structures and governance.
Olarinde’s work has been featured in multiple exhibitions across continents, including museum exhibitions. In 2022, the acclaimed now Grammy-nominated artist Asake sought her talents, commissioning a series of paintings for the cover art of his sophomore music album, “Work of Art”. This collaboration, amongst others, stands as a true testament to the impact and influence of Olarinde’s work on shaping and enriching popular culture within Africa and the diaspora.