Artist: Sokenu Abayomi

Sokenu Abayomi (b. 1976) lives and works in Lagos, where he continues to refine a practice rooted in colour, texture, and the human experience. Following his National Youth Service in Kaduna, Abayomi began his career as an illustrator in advertising before committing fully to painting — a transition that sharpened his graphic sensibility while deepening his instinct for composition.

Abayomi’s canvases are built from a vibrant, tactile language of short, deliberate strokes and layered hues. His colour application is both studied and intuitive: broad, luminous passages of paint meet intricate linear networks, creating a visual field that oscillates between figuration and abstraction. Within these fields, viewers sense a dialogue between humanity and environment — a mapping of enterprise, adaptation, and cultural memory.

Refusing mere imitation, Abayomi invites audiences to discover form and narrative through suggestion rather than direct representation. His approach privileges authenticity over photographic likeness, allowing subjects to emerge through rhythm, gesture, and tonal interplay. This quiet resistance to obvious depiction underlines his belief in painting as a space of discovery and interpretation.

A committed contributor to Nigeria’s contemporary art movement, Abayomi co-founded Art Clique in 2010, a collective dedicated to plein air painting and creative exchange. He is also an active member of the Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA) and the Artzero Group, participating in and shaping Lagos’s vibrant artistic networks. His work has been shown widely across Nigeria and abroad, appearing in group exhibitions that celebrate the evolving language of African painting.

Beyond the studio, Abayomi is grounded by family life — a balance that informs his thoughtful, quietly humanist approach to art. Each canvas becomes an exploration of colour and connection: a pursuit of beauty that is rigorous, generous, and deeply personal.