Poignancy Painting

Akolo Emmanuel Olusegun is a self-taught multidisciplinary contemporary visual artist from Lagos, Nigeria, now based in Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada. A Civil Engineering graduate from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, he channels his analytical background into a thoughtful painting practice rooted in realism and impressionism. Working primarily with acrylics and Charcoals, Akolo layers expressive brushwork, intricate textures, and his own fingerprints to craft vibrant, emotive figurative works. His art, often rendered in earthy tones and bold contrasts, reflects his environment and addresses themes of identity, social justice, and human resilience. Through his visual storytelling, Akolo documents personal and collective struggles, aiming to influence society by fostering love, tolerance, and understanding across racial, cultural, and religious divides. Akolo’s work has been exhibited internationally, with notable group exhibitions in Canada, United States and Nigeria, including Reclaiming Narratives: A Black Resistance (St. Catharines, 2025), Melanin & Masterpieces (Art Gallery of Hamilton, 2025), United States’ SaatchiArt, the Signature Sogal Acquire Auction (Lagos, 2019). In 2023, Saatchi Art recognized him as one of the "23 Artists to Collect in 2023," making him the only Nigerian selected that year. In addition to gallery exhibitions, Akolo's work has reached global audiences through a licensing partnership with Saatchi Art and Samsung Frame TV, where his paintings are featured as digital art worldwide further extending the accessibility of his art beyond the traditional canvas. His work is held in private collections in Canada, Nigeria, United States of America, the United Kingdom, and China. Across his practice, Akolo explores the layered realities of human emotion, revealing unseen narratives of vulnerability, strength, and quiet introspection in the everyday. He continues to expand his artistic language, using his craft as a tool for empathy, connection and social commentary.