Nigerian, b. 1995
Olaosun Oluwapelumi was born and raised in Osun State, Nigeria, and currently resides in Ibadan. She holds a BSc in Geography and Planning Science from Adekunle Ajasin University. Her passion for art has been a lifelong pursuit, and she continues to hone her craft with every piece she creates.
Olaosun draws her inspiration from her life experiences and everything that touches her feelings. She is particularly interested in conveying messages on mental health, gender inequality problems, social issues, and African history, among other issues connected to black people. Through her art, Olaosun aims to create a connection with her viewers, making them feel the intensity of the story she tells.
She is a passionate artist dedicated to creating positive change in the world through her art. Her medium of choice is acrylic and oil on canvas, and she spends days working on each piece to ensure that it expresses her emotions and connects with her viewers.
Olaosun's works have been exhibited locally and internationally in galleries and art fairs. She continues to create art that sparks emotions and creates positive change, and her works are a testament to her dedication to her craft and her desire to make a difference in the world.
Artist Statement
My practice explores the emotional weight of being human within socially defined expectations, with a particular focus on vulnerability, identity, and psychological tension in African contexts.
I am interested in how emotion is often suppressed, especially within gendered and cultural structures that demand strength while denying softness. Through figurative painting, I present bodies that carry this tension visibly, where internal experiences become external form. The figure often becomes a surface of conflict: where silence, pressure, and memory intersect.
At its core, my work is a study of emotional visibility. I am interested in what it means to feel deeply in a world that often demands restraint, and how painting can become a space where those emotions are acknowledged, held, and seen.
