First Look at New Paintings from Brixton Based Artist Abe Odedina
The award-winning painter will make his British Art Fair debut this month
Described as “mesmerising” by The Guardian, award-winning painter Abe Odedina makes his British Art Fair debut at London’s Saatchi Gallery this month with Son of the Soil, an exclusive solo exhibition as part of the Fair’s Solo Contemporary exhibition.
Architect turned self-taught painter Abe Odedina’s work, hailed as “vivid, layered and deeply human” by Harper’s Bazaar, has been shown in the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, the National Portrait Gallery following a Portrait Award nomination for his The Adoration of Frida Kahlo portrait, Somerset House, Carnegie Hall, and commissioned by British film royalty Danny Boyle.
Abe’s art blends deities, cutting cultural commentary, and vibrant colour inspired by his Nigerian heritage to evoke universal human stories, ancient Yoruba Gods and his relentless fascination with all faiths. “I’ve never met a God I don’t like” says Abe. Instead of a canvas, Abe paints on board, plywood and materials akin to shop fronts to capture irresistible characters in acrylic.
Abe’s artworks are a testament to the universality of the human experience, weaving the poetry of life with everyday miracles. Drawing inspiration from Haitian Voodoo practitioners, painters of the Sacred Heart, anonymous African craftsmen, and his daily walks in Brixton, Abe’s work revives and deconstructs classic themes. By blending ancient Greek and Yoruba mythologies with everyday life, he sparks dynamic narratives that bridge different eras and cultures.
Son of the Soil is presented by The African Art Hub who are exhibiting at the British Art Fair for the first time this year.
Abe says “I like to think that I come from a long line of African makers. I’m honoured to be in that tradition across the continent. It’s a continuum. The African Art Hub champions exceptional artists from Africa and the diaspora.”
Son of the Soil — Abe Odedina presented by The African Art Hub . The British Art Fair, 26- 29 September 2024. Saatchi Gallery, Duke of York’s HQ, King’s Road, London SW3 4RY https://www.abeodedina.com/
