Bola Opadiran

Bola Opadiran is a contemporary artist, born in 1974, in Modakeke, Osun State, Nigeria. A seasoned, hardworking, dedicated, prolific, and talented mixed media artist who is creatively ingenious in all areas of art. He aims to communicate the complications and complexities of life through a combination of materials.

Bola has over the years tried a wide range of materials in his works, materials as sea shells, periwinkle shells, snail shells, wood, jute, plastic, mirror, seeds stones, shoes, leather, sand, and so on.

He obtained his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, and the University of Ibadan respectively both in the department of Agric-Economics. To him, no barrier is unassailable and his philosophy is "not what you have in your hands that matters, but what you can do with your hands". Bola has an affinity and propensity to break new frontiers and "disobey some conventional laws.

Naturally, he was drawn to art at a tender age. This interest later developed when he was in the University by frequently visiting the art department. Also noteworthy is his short stint at Gbolade Omidiran's studio (another art phenomenon, an art colossus) during his university days in Ife. Like a colossus, he has delved into impressionism, semi-realism, abstract, marbling, Opaism, and other areas of art.

Bola has to his credit an invention of a unique style he named "Opaism" (coining this from his last name) where pixilated materials are used to make inspiring pieces. Though he has no formal education in art, his huge talent and undiluted passion for art turned him into a full-time artist. What triggered the birth of his style (Opaism) is his appetite to do something different and he started this by turning materials that are meant to be burnt and discarded in his studio into harmonious blends of colorful junks.atat