Fatunmbi Anjolaoluwa Grace

Anjolaoluwa Arike Fatunmbi is an artist based in the southwest city of Ibadan, Oyo state, Nigeria. Her medium of art is expressed in traditional Adire and Ankara fabric with a blend of acrylic on canvas. Her journey into art began at an early stage while watching her father work on various forms of art as a seasoned professional. For, Arike, Art was second nature as she lived and dreamed of art in an environment beaming with top professionals and ardent art enthusiasts.

As she advanced in age with a broader exposure to the vicissitudes of life and a deeper understanding of how human nature transcends and reinvents in a constantly changing circle, her works are consciously impacted by her cultural roots and personal experiences. Arike's textile art is composed of intricate compositions of layers of fabric, flowery patterns, and detailed attention to the markings of the female features. Her pieces are reflective of her personality as she loves to incorporate vibrant colors and whimsical designs.

With her early start in the Art scene, Arike has been able to apprentice under renowned masters in the Art sector like the globally acclaimed proponent of Contemporary Black Art, Oluwole Omofemi. Her work was selected for the prestigious Art fellowship themed: Telling textile tales. The program sponsored by the British council had in attendance notable heavyweights like Uzoma Samuel and Laura Jones among other participants. She successfully presented papers on the forms of Art she practice and the ethics guiding her creative enterprise.

She has also been greatly inspired by leading female artists in the likes of Marcellina Akpojotor, Bisa Butler, and Bola Obatuyi, who herself is a fast-rising textile Artist making waves on the international art scene. As an Artist shaped by an authentic need to tell transformative narratives through enchanting motifs, Arike's aim is to push the boundaries of textile art and to create works that evoke emotion, thoughtfulness, and joy.