"GÈLÈ (Head tie)" Fine Art Print

Oluwafemi Afolabi is a Nigerian artist known as "the Chiropteran Painter." A native of Ogbomoso South, Oyo State, he was born in Northern Nigeria where he began his early education before returning to his hometown to complete his schooling.

Oluwafemi’s journey into art began informally after secondary school as a trainee in Graphics and Sign Writing at Mide Print in Oyo Town. He later studied at Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Oyo, graduating in 2017 as a Painting and Graphic Specialist. He has also earned a Bachelor’s degree in Fine and Applied Arts from Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU.

His paintings are known for their expressive figurative style and recurring bat imagery. The bat comes from his childhood in Birnin Gwari, Kaduna State, where it became both a source of survival and a metaphor for endurance. Inspired by his mother’s Yoruba proverb, “Tí ó bá kù ọwọ́ kan àdán, á fi ro igi ni”—“If a bat has only one hand left, it will still hold onto the tree.” — the bat in his work represents resilience, adaptability, and hope.

Ankara fabric is equally central to his practice. It honors his mother’s sacrifice and dignity, transforming everyday textile into a visual language of love, endurance, and African identity.

Through layered compositions and emotionally charged narratives, Oluwafemi tells stories of overlooked lives and quiet strength. His work has been exhibited both locally and internationally.


Artist Statement
My work is a reflection of memory, survival, and human resilience.
Working primarily in acrylic and oil on canvas, I tell stories that are often overlooked — stories of sacrifice, motherhood, struggle, hope, and identity.

My inspiration comes from nature, the chiropteran bat, and African heritage. The color green represents life, growth, and renewal. The recurring bat in my work is not a symbol of fear, but of resilience. It comes from my childhood and from a Yoruba proverb my mother shared with me during one of our most difficult seasons: “Tí ó bá kù ọwọ́ kan àdán, á fi ro igi ni”—“If a bat has only one hand left, it will still hold onto the tree.” That philosophy shaped my understanding of survival and continues to guide my practice.

Ankara fabric is also central to my paintings. Beyond its beauty, Ankara speaks to African identity, cultural pride, and storytelling. For me, it represents my mother’s sacrifices — her choice to live simply so her children could have a better future.