Dignity in Labour; The Father's Plight Painting

Emmanuel Akintunde (b. early 1990s, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria) is a multidisciplinary visual artist whose practice bridges tradition and contemporary expression. His artistic journey began in secondary school, where a spontaneous portrait sketch on a classroom table awakened his passion for art. This early spark evolved into formal study, culminating in a B.Tech in Fine and Applied Arts from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, Oyo State, where he honed his craft in painting and drawing. Working primarily in oil, acrylic, charcoal, and pastel, Akintunde’s practice reflects his optimism and belief in the transformative power of creativity. His works explore human emotions, spirituality, and cultural identity, merging African heritage with modern influences. He has exhibited widely, with notable appearances including Made in Naija Expo 1 (Ibadan, 2020), Made in Naija Expo 3 (Ogbomoso, 2021), the Liesel Cerna Mother’s Day Virtual Exhibition (Brazil, 2022), and the International Pakistan Art Exhibition (Pakistan, 2022). He currently lives and works in Abuja, Nigeria. Artist Statement For me, art is not simply the product of imagination it is the convergence of mind, heart, and soul. Each work is born from lived experience: emotions, beliefs, thoughts, and the rhythm of my environment. As a multidisciplinary artist, I explore portraiture, human figures, abstraction, still-life, and landscapes, seeking to distill beauty, depth, and emotional resonance. My process employs diverse media including charcoal, pastel, acrylic, oil, newsprint, and digital techniques pushing the boundaries of traditional and contemporary practice. At the core of my work lies a celebration of African identity. I weave sociocultural themes with modern tools and materials to create visual narratives that advocate for hope, love, resilience, and courage. Through this fusion, I aim to connect the personal with the universal transforming my art into a space for dialogue, reflection, and shared humanity.