Today we’d like to introduce you to John Akande

Hi John, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?

My story is quite similar to what young aspired artist, who are yet to discover themself fully are currently facing, which is 80 percent of Nigerian/African parents don’t encourage their children when it comes to art and before I could outgrow that experience it took me a lot of stubbornness, my Dad torn my sketchpad years ago, but i kept on doing this for passion, they agree with me a little later, so i started my journey by practicing learning from masters, with that i was still doing it for passion not knowing this is what i would take as profession, year after year i began to discover my self more and more until i became good at it, so i was commissioned by one of my teachers in my secondary school, so that gave me some confidence and encouragement to do more, i think that was when i decided to focus on art, and buying art materials was a lot for me then, but i kept on doing this buying with the little token i use to save, i did an internship with an artist in my local area before i further my education, it was when i was admitted to Yaba college of technology, i eye open to artmarket and what is going on in the artworld so i have to change my orientation about art then i started my practice which is my style as a contemporary artist, some couples of month i had my first sold and group exhibitions, where i meet with curators and collectors and also art lover and other Artist that has same story as mine, and i really thank God for the gift of Men, so up till date i have been going from one level to another higher level, and my profiles is growing.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?

It has never been a smooth road, though the more I grow the more the road goes smoother, those struggles are the discouragement I face the lack of funds to get materials, and also the lack of visibility, as a starting artist it’s hard finding or to be given platforms to showcase your self, because of unknown profile.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?

I’m John Akande, a visual Artist known for my figurative painting, which captures my African culture and expresses the black identity, i love to tell stories about my environment, the inner thoughts of my identity and also its state of mind, my art is inspired by people around me and my experience, and I’m proud to be an African Artist, what set me apart from others is me doing my thing, my art and my style of painting is the real part of me, its my breath to keep my creativity alive.

Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?

What makes me happy is to see my family happy, you know where there is peace there is joy and also when I see love around people, there is this kind of feeling I get from it having goosebumps and music makes me happy also, and the reason is that I love music and I love peace.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.artsy.net/artist/akande-john
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/akandejjohn?igsh=cmlnbHA4OXdtYjc%3D&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/WrzdNChtjYuKESHY/?mibextid=LQQJ4d
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/akande-john-42ba931a9?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app