We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Abiola Wabara. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Abiola below.

Alright, Abiola thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

I am a self taught artist, started as a kid just wanting to create gifts for myb parents and grew into a passion I could take with me anywhere around the world. I was born and raised in Italy and art was part of my schools curriculum from elementary all the way to highschool, we were given free range – they focused more on art history than teaching the craft, but seeing the work of historical artist from all over the world was veru inspiring.

After graduating college I started plaing professional basketball across Europe, that is where I first joined an artists open studio where sha taught techniques and specifically working with oil paints. It was intimidating at first, but fell in love e with the texture and flexibility to work on a piece far longer than I could with Acrylics.

I wish I learned from a professional sooner, but at the same time I am glad I did not because it allowed me to find my unique style and not be influenced by a classical training.

Abiola, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Abiola and I am a Nigerian, Italy born Houston based artist. My art can currently be found on the walls of the Breakfast Klub in midtown Houston and my online gallery artbyabiola.com

I create art representing mainly black women in different shape and forms based on what I am feeling at the time- growing up in italy was not the most pleasant experience and of course there were not many that looked like me, my art came as a way of self appreciation and self awareness.

I am happy to have shared my work across various countries and get the appreciation and collector across all cultures – I am a firm believer that while art is in the eye of the beholder it should make you feel something and the best compliment I have ever received was that my work was peaceful and made them (the person complimenting me) feel the life of my subjects through my signature over sized eyes. another big proud moment was someone recognizing my work because of its style before even seeing the signture!

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

I think a big misconception from none artist is that all art pieces have to have some deep seeded meaning behind it. if I’m being honest at times it does but a lot of times I just paint something because I liked it, or I had an idea and came across an image that was like a dejavu of my imagination or because I was bored and wanted to let the creative juices flow.

While I do think every viewer will see a sory of their oen behind each piece, not every one started as such

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

Once I retired from being a basketball player, I tried to be a full time artists for a summer – I survived and paid all bills exclusively through art sales. What that taught me is that I did not want to make art my main source of income, putting that type of pressure on it took the joy and “easy goinginess” of my creative process and as it turned out I did not like to feel like I HAD to paint and sell or bills wouldn’t get paid.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.artbyabiola.com
• Instagram: artbyabiola
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/art-by-abiola