About the Artist
by Dr. Jon Gerrard
Nigerian born, Manitoban Yisa Akinbolaji brings the colour and passion of his native country into his artistic style. Mr. Akinbolaji's artistic career began with his first solo show at the National Museum, Lagos, Nigeria in 1984. A graduate in art from the Yaba College of Arts and Technology, Lagos in 1986, he enrolled in the MFA program at University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, USA in 2005. Yisa was recognized as a leading Nigerian artist with his work and biography included in Nigerian Artists: A Who's Who and Bibliography, Oxford, 1993, compiled and edited by Bernice Kelly and Janet L. Stanley of the Smithsonian Institute Libraries, Washington, USA.
In 1997, Mr Akinbolaji moved to Canada. He has used his vibrant and colourful artistic approach to depict scenes from his new country. Over the years his work has been exhibited nationally and internationally. In Winnipeg, Akinbolaji's art has been featured in the newspaper, discussed on the radio and shown on television. His artistic and creative talents were recognized by his peers when he was elected to membership in the Manitoba Society of Artists, becoming its President in 2001.
Akinbolaji speaks profound messages through his art and he displays colour and art forms masterfully. Through some of his works, one can feel sound and motion. In some, one can feel camaraderie, strength, boldness, sympathy, hope or emotions. Certainly, there is evidence of confidence in the manner he expresses his voice on canvas.
FRENCH translation:
Nigerien de naissance et Manitobain d'adoption, Yisa Akinbolaji insuffle a son style artistique la couleur at la passion de son pays natal. Il entreprend sa carriere artistique en presentant une exposition solo au Musee national de Lagos (Nigeria) en 1984. Diplome en arts plastiques du Yaba College of Arts and Technology de Lagos en 1986, il est reconnu comme un artiste important: son oeuvre et sa biographie sont mises en vedette dans le livre Nigerian Artists: A Who's Who and Bibliography (Oxford, 1993), compile et edite par Bernice Kelly et Janet L. Stanley des Smithsonian Institution Librairies a Washington, USA.
En 1997, Y. Akinbolaji arrive au Canada. Ici, il utilise son approche artistique dynamique et coloree pour peindre des scenes de son nouveau pays. Au cours des ans, ses oeuvres ont ete exposees nationalement et internationalement. Winnipeg, les oeuvres d'Yisa Akinbolaji ont ete presentees dans les journaux, a la radio et a la television. Ses talents d'artiste et de createur ont ete reconnus par ses pairs lors son election a la Manitoba Society of Artists, dont il devient le president en 2001.
L'artiste transmet des messages profonds dans ses oeuvres d'art et il utilise la couleur et les formes artistiques comme un maitre. Dans certaines oeuvres, on peut <<voir>> le son et le mouvement. Dans certaine autres, les sujets suscitent des sentiments de camaraderie, de force, d'audace, de sympathie, d'amour et d'espoir. Il y a certainement des preuves de confiance en soi dans la facon dont il exprime sa 'voix' sur la toile. Dans ses oeuvres abstraites, sa dexterite et sa liberte sans compromis, que demontre son utilisation de la couleur, lui ont gagne l admiration de ses pairs et des collectionneurs d'oeuvres d'art. Equilibre entre ses oeuvres figuratives et abstraites represente ce qu'Yisa Akinbolaji appelle son <<regime artistique equilibre>>.
Telephone: 1-204-942-7245
Studio: 71 Elsbury Bay, Winnipeg Manitoba
