Meet Tomiwa Adelagun

Tomiwa Adelagun is a full-time practicing artist who hails from Ijebu Ode in Ogun State Nigeria.

He was born in the urban city of Lagos where his artistic talent sprang to life and he received the guardian of God and older artists.

Adelagun spent his early life with his uncle who was a major influence on him and wanted him to become a lawyer.

As a child, Tomiwa enjoyed scribbling his creative abilities through cartoon drawings on the walls and on a newspaper.

Tomiwa not only experienced a measure of hardship in his childhood but also faced lonely spells when he lost his mother at the age of 18. This, however, led to him spending part of his childhood with his uncle in the urban city of Lagos where he met older artists who aided his artistic vision in the art industry.

His total commitment to creative endeavors cut across diverse media, however, his chosen media are digital, oil, ink, charcoal, and acrylic with a preference for mixed media.

Being a traditional and digital remastered visual griot, Tomiwa views his painting as a global figure of speech keenly aware that the younger generation uses images to lubricate their thinking and promote viral messages.

His interest and creative works continually explore the historical and contemporary topics around social, emotional, economic and political aspects of life, giving him opportunities to shuttle between the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, and Nigeria.

The story and expressive properties of his technique are carefully used to describe with acute accuracy the true inward essence of his paintings and their peculiar details.

Tomiwa Adelagun, The Union, 2021, Oil, Ink, and Digital On Paper

Tomiwa’s first and second {Group} exhibition were 2021 and 2022 at the G.A.I.A. Africa in Victoria Island, Lagos Nigeria.

An Exhibition themed “FRAMING HER & A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING ALL AT ONCE”

Terra Kulture has also hosted his Exhibition {Virtual} 2021 Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria.

“THE LEGEND OF THE QUEEN” Curated by Biafarin 2022 {Group} Ontario, Canada.

Bloominc.art Kenya {Virtual Exhibition} 2022 Mombasa, Kenya.

‘HUES OF HAPPINESS” curated by Alliance Francaise De Lagos {Mike Adenuga Centre} {Group} 2023 Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria

Several of Tomiwa’s works have been featured in numerous shows, blogs, newspapers, and widely collected across Nigeria and Abroad.

To mention few of the featured blogs are https://www.jaamzin.com/post/artist-tomiwa-adelagun. His raw style engages the views of many as his projects illustrate human beauty with the use of vibrant colors in a distinct way to inspire positive change while it tells the story of contemporary Africa.