Unsolicited Opinion Painting

Omogbolade Ajayi is a Nigerian-born multidisciplinary artist whose work explores identity, memory, and the emotional power of color. Drawing from both traditional Yoruba aesthetics and contemporary Black expression, his paintings fuse figuration with abstract gestures, using bold chromatic contrasts to tell stories that transcend realism. His practice draws upon the duality of spirit and form, figuration and abstraction. Working primarily with acrylic on canvas and wood, he layers symbols, gestures, and textures to reveal the unseen, the forgotten, and the deeply felt. His use of chromatic tension channels both ancestral memory and contemporary Black expression, inviting viewers into a space where story and silence coexist. Omogbolade’s artistic influences are as expansive as his palette—ranging from the emotive intensity of Yayoi Kusama to the narrative depth of Keith Haring, the clarity of Keren Duchan, and the cultural grounding of Laolu Senbanjo. His work also draws on Yoruba concepts blending tradition with modernity. Omogbolade holds a Master’s degree in Computer Science and has over a decade of experience as a creative and visual storyteller. Color Riot marks his first formal exhibition, where he invites viewers to experience color as both boundary and bridge—an act of presence in a world that often renders people invisible.