By Onyeka Ezike

Whoever thought that black identity in painting, which has found broad acceptability among young artists recently would go away so soon may be wrong.

Strengthening the trend is Abayomi Odetomi’s paintings, which create sparkling colours to boost elegance of his subjects.

Odetomi’s bio describes him as a contemporary painter known for his bright, realism/semi-abstract paintings that capture stories of African experiences. While the popularity of darkened skin in figurative paintings keep growing among young artists, the need for individual artist to have some unique identity brings into focus Odetomi’s style and technique.

Standing out from the crowd of artists, Odetomi applies more of his energies in generating sparkling colours from the body of the figurative forms. The artist’s style of placing less emphasis on the facial textures of his figurative paintings looks like something unique to him. Among such paintings are The African Queen, Aiyeyemisi, A Symphony of Love, Angel of Love, The Black Empress, Lunar Luminescence, and Luminous Peace.

In The African Queen painting, Odetomi depicts royal elegance in a young woman on scarlet dress, who sits in a floral field. Significantly, the artist places a peacock by the side of the human subject, complementing beauty and elegance of the entire concept. “The painting beautifully symbolizes the connection between the woman and the peacock, representing grace and nobility,” Odetomi stated. “The peacock, often associated with beauty and pride, enhances the regal presence of the figure, suggesting a celebration of African heritage and femininity. This relationship highlights the importance of cultural identity and the strength found in embracing one’s roots.”

Again, in another painting titled A Symphony of Love, Odetomi expands his concept of bonding humans and their pets when it comes to celebration of beauty. The artist captures the intimate connection between the woman and her pet, symbolizing the warmth and comfort found in companionship. He explained that the gentle posture of the woman cradling her dog suggests a deep bond, evoking feelings of trust and affection.

The soft colours and serene background, he says, enhance the sense of tranquility, and the scene invites viewers to reflect on the simple but profound moments of love that enrich our lives. He argued that the work “serves as a reminder that love can be found in the quiet companionship of our pets, creating a harmonious melody of shared experiences and emotions.”

 Whatever art means to Odetomi is something that is worth following as the artist said, generally, his works celebrate the beauty of Africa, its people and their connections with the splendour of nature. His interest in stylish women of trendy fashion form the major subjects in his compositions, depicting closeness with exotic animals, plants and flowers.

With such combinations of human and animal nature, the results are art pieces that elevate and inspire viewers to reflect upon life as a chain of elements with deep connections. He often paints women in their youth, which is the artist’s vision of strong and independent African women whom he imbues with sentimental adoration for the enhancement of their African identity.

An aspect of Odetomi’s style is his distinctive use of bright colours for exploring the mysterious beauties of the universe, with the immediacy of acrylic, enabling him to achieve these ideas and expressions on canvas. The backgrounds of his paintings are far from drab, as he works them with vibrant colours to blend with the central images. The entire shapes and forms in the compositions portray the surrealness of the human and other forms from nature in one space.

Odetomi is Born in Lagos, Nigeria in the 80s. He studied painting at Yaba college of Technology and graduated in 2016. His paintings which sometimes feature stylish women in their trendy fashion and Yoruba deities in modern looks, using vibrant colors and African fabrics in his compositions have earned him recognition both home and abroad.