Statement
Fully self-taught, Damilola Olusegun relied on Youtube tutorials to learn the techniques she admired in the works of established professional artists. She quickly settled on portraits as her preferred style. As she studied more techniques, she also studied styles and would draw inspiration from a variety of artists- most notably fellow Nigerian Ken Nwadiogbu who led her towards the love of charcoal [and occasionally graphite] as a medium; Clio Newton and Juliane Berge, whose works swayed Damilola towards working uniquely on large scale surfaces.
While she doesn’t appear in her works, Damilola infuses every portrait with an emotional story that can be felt by any viewer. Her work captures the grief of losing her father, the difficulty of pursuing any dream when finances are unsteady; it captures the universal heartbreaks, frustration and lessons of young adulthood. But Damilola also makes sure to convey hope, joy and love through her work. “I’ve started incorporating flowers into my works,” she says. “I love the visual contrast of these colorful flowers against a black and white portrait. But the flowers are also a reminder that even in the darkest moments, there is beauty and hope at every turn.”
Bio
It’s only fitting that the next rising star of the art world would hail from Ogun State, the Gateway to Nigeria. Because if Damilola Olusegun has her way, her work in the international arts community will spark the necessary support for the growing artist community in her country. Born and raised in Sagamu – an industrial and agricultural city located about 70km from Lagos, Nigeria’s largest city – Damilola’s love of art was something her father first recognized and encouraged when she was a teenager. But it wasn’t until a few months after his untimely death in late 2016 that she chose to hone her skills and pursue art seriously as a way to honor her father’s memory.
In 2018, having amassed a collection of work she felt ready to present to the world, Damilola found herself at an impasse: where DOES a young artist showcase their work in Ogun State? Unable to find an answer, she organized the first ever art show at her college – an academy of science, where she was studying microbiology. Using her own money and recruiting her mother and siblings as her support staff, she opened the show as an opportunity for other creatives from her school – including photographers and makeup artists – as well as artists from other schools. The reactions she received let her know that she was on the right track and she began submitting her work to open calls around the world. A year later, she was named the Best Young Visual Artist of 2019 by The Everyday Chapter.
Now that she has hit her artistic stride, Damilola is seeking residencies and exhibitions across the world, with a goal far beyond the exposure it will bring her personally. “There is a small community of artists here in Nigeria, but we’re working to get people’s attention,” she explains. “That’s why I push so hard to establish myself within the global community: I want to use my personal success to help bring recognition to other Nigerian artists.” To that end, Damilola also mentors other young artists, teaching virtual and in person classes in hopes of fostering in others the love of art that was nurtured in her.
https://damilolajoyolusegun.wordpress.com/
