Abiodun Okemakinde

Born on December 23rd, 1971, Okemakinde Abiodun John is a prolific and experimental artist.He obtained a Diploma in Business Administration from the Polytechnic Ibadan in Oyo State. Okemakinde got artistic training from the Ovuomaroro Studio and Gallery in Mushin, Lagos. There he learned under Professor Bruce Onobrakpeya for four years, graduating in 2000. Okemakinde grew up in SOS Children’s Village, Isolo, Lagos. He was introduced to Onabrakpeya by Mrs Agatha da Silva, a former national director at the SOS Children’s Village.

Okemakinde’s passion for art became evident at a young age in his drawings, paintings and winning of art prices and awards which were obtained from inter-school competitions and organizations. He has been in the visual art industry for over a decade even though, as he claims, he has never been able to hold a solo exhibition other than ‘innumerable’ group exhibitions which took off with the second edition of the Onabrekpeya’s Harmattan exhibition in 1999. He has a passion for graphic art, painting and printmaking. His works can be found in homes and offices within and outside Nigeria.