Tunde Odunlade ( in
Yoruba
The Yoruba people (, , ) are a West African ethnic group that mainly inhabit parts of Nigeria, Benin, and Togo. The areas of these countries primarily inhabited by Yoruba are often collectively referred to as Yorubaland. The Yoruba constitute ...
), born 26 November 1954, is a
Nigerian artist
An artist is a person engaged in an activity related to creating art, practicing the arts, or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse refers to a practitioner in the visual arts only. However, th ...
,
actor, and
musician
A musician is a person who composes, conducts, or performs music. According to the United States Employment Service, "musician" is a general term used to designate one who follows music as a profession. Musicians include songwriters who wri ...
known for his
Batik art tapestry and designs. He specialises in
textile arts, and floatography.
He is a member of the Visual Artists Network of the United States of America (VAN) and a frequent participant at the National Conference of Artists, New York. He was a performing actor with the Nigeria Cultural Troupe during
Festac. He lives in
Ibadan, the southern western part of
Nigeria.
Early life and career
Babatunde Samuel Odunlade was born on 26 November 1954 in Iremo,
Ile-ife, where he spent his childhood.
He met Yinka Adeyemi, a member of the Osogbo school of arts, and began his career in early 1970 as a second generation artist of the school of art. He also attended the Oguntimehin Art-workshop at the
University of Ife
Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) is a federal government-owned university that is located in the ancient city of Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria. The university was founded in 1961 and classes commenced in October 1962 as the University of Ife ...
in 1973. Tunde uses traditional techniques through a unique batik
appliqué process on textiles. He also developed a style which he calls floatograph, his art draws from
Yoruba
The Yoruba people (, , ) are a West African ethnic group that mainly inhabit parts of Nigeria, Benin, and Togo. The areas of these countries primarily inhabited by Yoruba are often collectively referred to as Yorubaland. The Yoruba constitute ...
history, culture and life in Nigeria with speciality in batiks, linocut, and woodcut prints. He was an artist-in-residence in 1986 and 1989 at
Stillman College, Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
He served as artistic director at the Toki Memorial Arts Centre, Ibadan in 1989, He also founded International Campaign for Better Arts and Cultural Awareness (ICBACA).
In December 2020, he established the Tunde Odunlade Arts and Culture Connexions in Ibadan,
Oyo state.
Exhibitions
His works has been exhibited within Nigeria and internationally, including:
*Federal Government College Sokoto, 1978, 1980, 1981.
*Bakolori Dam Project, Talata, Mafara, Sokoto, 1978.
*Education Center, Ministry of Education, Maiduguri. 1981 – 1982.
*27 January – 20 March 1999 "''New Colours from Old Worlds: Contemporary Art from West Africa''" October Gallery, London
*24 March – 8 May 1999. "''Beauty Ravishes Me All Over Wherever I Find It."'' October Gallery, London
*Feb – April 2010. "''Dreaming Between Worlds''."
Hammonds House Museum
The Hammonds House Museum is a museum for African American fine art, located at 503 Peeples Street SW in the West End neighborhood of Atlanta, Georgia. It is located in the 1857 Victorian house, former residence of Dr. Otis Thrash Hammonds, a pro ...
Atlanta, GA.
*October 2011. "''Art as a Tool for Nation Building''." Nigerian High Commission, Ottawa, Canada
*July – August 2011. "New York Summer Show 2011". Corrine Jennings Gallery, New York, NY
*December 2012. Lagos Art Expo. National Museum, Lagos, Nigeria.
*February to April 2012. City Lights Gallery, Bridgeport, Connecticut.
References
External links
Tunde Odunlade Artist Cooperative GalleryIndigo Arts GallerySmithsonian National Museum of African Art
{{DEFAULTSORT:Odunlade, Tunde
1954 births
Living people
Nigerian artists
Nigerian textile artists