b. Ibadan, Nigeria; lives in London and Salvador Bahia
Abe Odedina began to paint on a trip to Brazil in 2007 before which he was a successful architect. Describing himself as a folk artist, Odedina’s practice is inspired by diverse mythologies from Yoruba to Classical Greek which he both revives and deconstructs creating a charged dialogue through which bold stories that defy clear categorisation can rise and speak through his paintings. In 2017, Odedina together with The Underground Museum, Los Angeles was awarded the Ellsworth Kelly Award from the Foundation of Contemporary Arts, New York. His work sits in a number of major international collections such as The British Government Art Collection and the Serge Tiroche Collection. Recent solo exhibitions include: Cutting Edge, Clerkenwell Gallery (2021); Birds of Paradise, Copeland Gallery, London; True Love, The Department Store, London (2018); Say it Loud, 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair, Somerset House, London, (2017).