Tomiwa Adelagn

Tomiwa Adelagun is a full-time contemporary artist from Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, Nigeria. He was born and raised in the city of Lagos, where his artistic talent was discovered and he grew up being influenced by the artists who came before him.

Tomiwa's childhood was by no means smooth, but his talent naturally overflowed from an early age, as he would draw cartoons on walls and newspapers, and creative work was an important outlet for him to face the difficult reality he was in. After experiencing the deep loneliness and trials of losing his mother at the age of 18, he decided to aspire to become a painter, and the presence of the artists he met in Lagos became an important support in nurturing his artistic vision.

Tomiwa's works are primarily digital, oil, ink, charcoal, and acrylic, and he prefers mixed media. Using traditional and digital techniques, he speaks of African culture, history, and stories through visual expression rather than words. He sees his paintings as a universal metaphor, and creates his works with a particular awareness of the characteristics of modern society, where the younger generation thinks and spreads messages through images.

His interests and creative activities continually explore historical and contemporary themes, including social, emotional, economic and political aspects, and his activities extend not only within Japan but also overseas, including the UK and the United Arab Emirates. His technique, rich in narrative and expressiveness, is carefully employed to accurately portray the inner essence of his works and the uniqueness that resides in their details, and continues to fascinate art collectors both in Japan and abroad.

Tomiwa has participated in numerous group and international exhibitions, and his work has been featured in numerous art blogs and newspapers, and is widely collected both in Nigeria and abroad.

Tomiwa's work, characterized by its vivid and raw style, not only attracts many viewers, but his projects also use vibrant colors to portray human beauty from a unique perspective, telling the story of modern Africa and inspiring positive change.

<Major exhibitions>

2021: Group exhibition "FRAMING HER & A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING ALL AT ONCE" in Terra Kulture (virtual exhibition) (Lagos, Nigeria)

2021: Group exhibition "GAIA Africa" (Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria)

2022: Group exhibition "GAIA Africa" (Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria)

2022: Group exhibition "THE LEGEND OF THE QUEEN" in Biafarin (Ontario, Canada)

2022: Virtual exhibition hosted by Bloominc.art Kenya (Mombasa, Kenya)

2023: Group exhibition "HUES OF HAPPINESS" in Alliance Française de Lagos (Lagos, Nigeria)