The larger life ll Painting

Artist Biography Oluwatobiloba Fasalejo (b. 2000) is a Nigerian visual artist, painter, and storyteller from Ondo State. A graduate of Fine Art Education from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife (B.Ed), Fasalejo creates art that celebrates the resilience, beauty, and cultural richness of African communities. His work reflects personal and shared experiences, using vintage colors to evoke nostalgia and cowries to symbolize wealth, guidance, and spiritual grounding elements tied to his surname and the Yoruba divination system of Ifá. Through expressive strokes of oil and acrylic, Fasalejo explores themes of growth, resilience, and self-acceptance, offering viewers a sense of peace and reflection. His art serves as a celebration of life’s complexities, capturing the beauty that emerges after struggle. Exhibited across Nigeria and internationally, Fasalejo’s work invites audiences into a layered narrative that honors the spirit and strength of African communities. Artist Statement In my studio, I create art that embodies the resilience, beauty, and cultural richness of the African community. My work reflects personal and shared experiences, drawing inspiration from my Yoruba heritage and the deep-rooted stories that shape my identity as a Nigerian artist. Each piece is a tribute to the human spirit, capturing the peace and beauty that emerge after struggle. I am particularly drawn to vintage colors, which evoke a sense of nostalgia and timelessness, allowing me to connect past experiences with present emotions. The element of cowries holds a special place in my art, rooted in my surname and its connection to Ifá, a sacred system of divination in Yoruba culture. These symbols not only honor my ancestry but also serve as a visual language of wealth, guidance, and spiritual connection. Through my paintings, I aim to create a space of reflection and healing, offering viewers a sense of comfort and calm. My work explores themes of growth, resilience, and self-acceptance, delving into the political, social, and psychological dynamics of the African experience. Every brushstroke is an invitation to see beauty in imperfection, to find strength in vulnerability, and to embrace the enduring spirit of community. My art is a celebration of life’s journey, its struggles, triumphs, and the quiet moments of peace in between.