All Cocoonfly Artists

“The Green Revolution Artist ” Abiola (Ah-Bee-Or-Lah) is a true hybrid of different art generations. A native of Nigeria, born in 1960. He began to study formal art at an early age of 9. From mastering the techniques of life-drawings, anatomy, portraiture figure-paintings, and sculpture, he proceeded to earn a college degree in Sculpture and exploited sculptural art as a translational form for representational and expressionistic paintings. Works by Abiola provoke contemplation of the recent past, the fleeting present and the unknown future. His works delve into multiple layers of meanings and virtual plays to create mystic auras and positive vibrations. In his works viewers enter a different realm of consciousness; a synchronistic and revelatory world of energy, spirit and emotion where spontaneous improvisation, music and poetry are the language spoken. Abiola is stimulated by many divers...

Was born in 1990 in South Western Nigeria to Nigerian parents. He moved to The United States 2016. He graduated from the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. In 2013 with a degree in Fine Arts and Painting. In his quest to find the essence of life in asking the question of who we are and our hidden self, he has developed an approach and style of rendering his thoughts and creativity. He has participated in several exhibitions including: “The Impressionist” 2011 at Osogbo “New Names” 2012 at Obafemi Awolowo University “Inception” 2012 at University of Ibadan, “Arts of The Heart” 2013 at Obafemi Awolowo University “Frame Masters miniature exhibition” 2013 Onikan Lagos “Faces and Phases” 2015 at Terra Kulture VI Lagos “Connections” 2019 at Gallery Guichard, Chicago.

Professor Bruce Onobrakpeya (born 1932) is one of Nigeria’s most prestigious artistic pioneers, and presents 31 rare prints spanning his prolific career. He grew up in Delta State, Nigeria, and obtained a Diploma in Fine Arts and a Teacher’s Certificate from the Nigerian College of Arts, Science and Technology (now called Ahmadu Bello University) in Zaria in 1962. Onobrakpeya was a pioneer member of the Zaria Art Society, a student group which sought to develop a new aesthetic language deeply rooted in African tradition and philosophy. The group included Uche Okeke, Yusuf Grillo, Demas Nwoko, Oseloka Osadebe and other students who drew strength from the post-colonial independence movement. These aspiring young artists were later called the “Zaria Rebels” and quickly made their mark internationally. “We were not rebelling against anything as such but thought that the idea of just using the western art technique without relating it to our culture wasn’t right, ” commented Onobrakpeya, who began to experiment with diverse media that showcased Nigeria’s rich history, culture & philosophy, environment, as well as chronicling the nation’s socio-political development through paintings, sculpture, prints, and installations.

Like his father and grandfather before him, Asiru Olatunde (1918–1993) was a blacksmith. Illness forced him to give up blacksmithing and for a time he made jewelry to sell in the market. In 1961, encouraged by Susanne Wenger and Ulli Beier, Olatunde began to create figures of animals out of recycled copper and aluminum. His work evolved into a unique repoussé (reverse hammered technique) on aluminum panels. These panels are studies in texture and reflected light. The overall stippling pattern recalls the white painted dots found on some traditional wooden shrine figures. Olatunde's subjects include narratives drawn from Yoruba oral tradition, Bible stories set in Nigerian settings and scenes from everyday life. One image seen repeatedly throughout his work is the tree of life, a truly universal motif that also recalls his connections to the groves of the Oshun shrine. He sold his works locally and worldwide, in both the Oshogbo market and as commissions from churches, palaces, banks and the government...