We recently connected with Babatunde Bakare and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Babatunde thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?

No, it wasn’t like that from day one. In the beginning, I started out as a roadside artist, using art as a means of survival buying materials, experimenting, and trying to find my voice in the process.
Things slowly began to change with my first exhibitions, then came collectors, and eventually international recognition. I had the opportunity to showcase my works in both local and international exhibitions, and they were collected by people I never imagined. Each of these milestones gave me the courage to keep going.
What truly helped me was consistency, persistence, and patience. I also learned the importance of networking with people in the art field. Since I didn’t study art formally I studied Library and Information Science I had to grow by seeking knowledge and learning continuously.
Today, I can proudly say that I earn a living from my art. Even though I haven’t arrived yet, I am deeply grateful for how far I’ve come, and I remain committed to learning and growing.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Bakare Abubakrsideeq Babatunde, and I am a contemporary mixed media artist based in Abuja, Nigeria. My journey with art began in childhood, when creativity became a natural way of expressing myself. But I truly stepped into the art world as a roadside artist while studying Library and Information Science in college. At that time, art became both a means of survival and a path of self-discovery. With limited resources, I bought materials, practiced consistently, and searched for my voice.
Over the years, persistence and dedication opened new doors for me starting with my first exhibitions, then attracting collectors, and eventually gaining international recognition. Today, my works have been showcased both locally and abroad, and they now live in collections I once only dreamed of, including those of Giancarlo Giammetti.
My practice is deeply rooted in storytelling through culture, emotion, and personal experiences. I primarily work with oil, acrylic, and mixed media, incorporating Ankara fabrics including discarded pieces I collect and repurpose from fashion houses. This not only enriches my work with cultural meaning but also connects to sustainable practices. Through these materials, I explore themes of resilience, identity, and the shared human experience.
My relationship with Ankara fabric goes back to a defining childhood moment. A family photograph once held more than just memories it held the roots of my visual language. I remember how the photographer wanted to use a plain wall, but my grandmother, in her quiet wisdom, went inside and brought out Ankara fabrics to create a backdrop. That single gesture became a seed. Today, Ankara is more than fabric in my art it is memory, heritage, and a voice for stories untold. From then till now, my work continues to echo that fabric of identity she once draped behind me.
What sets my work apart is this fusion of personal memory, cultural heritage, and sustainability. What makes me most proud is how my art has grown into more than visual expression it has become a bridge between personal and collective narratives, between tradition and modernity. My goal is for people to understand that my art is not only about aesthetics but about creating connections with culture, with emotion, and with humanity.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

When I started out as a roadside artist, it was purely for survival. Even when I first enrolled into college, I struggled to pay my school fees. I remember one particular art competition I entered, hoping that if I won, I could use the prize money to settle my fees. Unfortunately, I didn’t win anything, and the school portal was about to close.
Although I came back without money, I returned with something more valuable the first set of original oil colors I had ever handled. That moment, though painful, marked the beginning of my resilience. I refused to give up. By God’s grace, some of my friends supported me by lending me money, which I later repaid through what I earned from the roadside art shop I was running at the time.
What kept me going was the quiet conviction at the back of my mind that I had something valuable to offer. I never doubted my ability, and that mindset gave me the strength to persist through the challenges. Looking back, that experience didn’t break me it built the resilient spirit that continues to push me forward today.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

In my view, for society to truly support artists and build a thriving creative industry, there needs to be a balance of resources, recognition, and opportunities. Many artists don’t lack talent they lack access. Affordable materials, funding, and platforms to showcase work are often hard to come by. I know this from experience. When I was in college and struggling to pay my fees, it was the support of friends who believed in me that kept me going. Later, the encouragement of collectors who valued my work gave me the courage to push further. That kind of support can make the difference between an artist giving up and an artist flourishing.
Another key area is creating more access to residencies and exchange programs. Personally, I have not yet had the opportunity to attend a residency, but I know how much it could help me. A residency gives artists time, space, and mentorship to grow beyond the studio, to learn from other cultures, and to refine their practice in ways that aren’t always possible when working alone. If society invests more in opportunities like that, it would elevate not just individual artists but the entire creative ecosystem.
Lastly, we must also shift how we see art. It is not just decoration it is a language of identity, healing, and unity. Art is part of the DNA of the artist. By valuing art as a necessity, not a luxury, and by integrating it into education, public life, and community spaces, we can create a society where artists thrive. And when artists thrive, culture and humanity thrive as well.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://bakare-babatunde.hopp.site/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bakare_sideeq?igsh=MWtrOGMyNWdkdjlhNA==
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1BNMe4P9Ty/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bakare-babatunde-07506421

Image Credits

Bakare babatunde