About

Suraj Adekola 

Contemporary Artist

Bio

Suraj Adekola, born in 1983. He is a Nigerian artist currently living in Manchester, UK. Suraj's work is informed by post-colonial narratives. Through painting, installation, and drawing, he uses elements of contemporary and historical material to explore themes of migration, globalisation, identity politics, equality, diversity, and inclusivity.

 

Suraj repurposed traditional Adire (tie-dye) fabric as a surface for his paintings instead of the conventional canvas and as an installation. Adire is an indigenous and popular indigo-tie-dyed fabric decorated with a resist-dyeing technique to create striking patterns, made in his hometown of Egbaland, Abeokuta, the capital of Adire-making in Nigeria. The fabric became part of the ways in which the artist defines and entrenches his identity as black. It is interesting how material can connect us to the idea of home or to another landscape in which it can be transported and reinforce a sense of identity and belonging.

 

His new body of work is a tribute to blacks: their loud silence, their undelivered feelings, their worth, their beauty, and their unrecognised contribution to the growth of the Western world. These characteristics, which often fall into the shadows, are what his new body of work consumed.

 

CV

EDUCATION

2021 – 2022, MA Contemporary Fine Arts, University of Salford, Manchester, UK.

 

2005 - 2007, Higher National Diploma (HND) Painting.

2002 - 2004, Ordinary National Diploma (OND) Painting and General Arts.

School of Art and Design, Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi,

Edo State, Nigeria.

 

 

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS

 

  • 2024 Beyond The Box: Izwi Art, Somerset House, London.

  • 2023 How Beautiful We Were (Are): Kanbi Contemporary Projects, Artsy.

  • 2023 Black Beauty, Pride, and Excellence: A Tale of Reappropriation, London Business School, UK.

  • 2022  Proudly Naija Souk, Group Show, London.

  • 2022 Degree Show, Impact: University of Salford.

  • 2021 Solo Exhibition, Infinite Growth: Alexis Galleries, Lagos, Nigeria.

  • 2020 Tenacity: Terra-Kulture Art Gallery, Lagos, Nigeria.

  • 2019 A journey into Contemporary African Art, Beirut, Lebanon.

  • 2019 Love with Nature: Triple-A All About Art, Lagos, Nigeria.

  • 2018 Ubuntu Art Exhibition: Lagos, Nigeria.

  • 2018 Culture and Tradition - Same Experience, Different Local: The Koppel Project, London.

  • 2018 Triad Group Exhibition: Alexis Galleries, Lagos, Nigeria.

  • 2017 Everyday Humanity: Kanbi Contemporary Gallery, United Kingdom.

  • 2016 Ferrum Art House: Rele Art Gallery, Lagos, Nigeria.

  • 2015 Beyond All Odds: Thought Pyramid Art Centre, Abuja, Nigeria.

  • 2014 October Rain: Society of Nigerian Artists Show, Lagos, Nigeria.

  • 2012 Colour and Carnival 2: Calabar, Nigeria. 2011 Colour and Carnival 1, Calabar, Nigeria.

  • 2010 Generational Statement: Thought Pyramid Art Centre, Abuja, Nigeria.

  • 2008 Nigerian Cultural Landscape in Perspective: Abuja, Nigeria. 

AUCTIONS

 

  • 2020  Piasa African and Contemporary Art Auction, Paris, France.
  • 2019  Cabral Moncada Leiloes, Lisbon, Portugal.
  • 2019  Geneve Encheres, Switzerland.
  • 2019  Art House African Art Auction, Nigeria.
  • 2018  Piasa African and Contemporary Art Auction, Paris, France.
  • 2017  Piasa African and Contemporary Art Auction, Paris, France.
  • 2015  Bonham's Art Auction London, United Kingdom.
  • 2011  TKMG Art Auction, Lagos, Nigeria.

  • 2010  TKMG Art Auction, Lagos, Nigeria.