We were lucky to catch up with Adeola Davies-Aiyeloja recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Adeola thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I have always been fascinated and have loved constructing things with whatever materials were available. Growing up in Nigeria, pursuing a profession in the arts or as an artist is not generally encouraged. I never initially considered learning to be an artist and instead chose to focus on the career portion of my accounting studies because we are challenged to pursue professions like lawyer, doctor, engineer, etc. Although I was raised in a culture where being an artist was not encouraged, I chose a different path for many years, yet the desire persisted. I made it a point to enroll in art classes both during and after my time in college in order to keep my enthusiasm alive, support my growth as a skilled artist, and keep in touch with other local artists. I’ve been able to develop my own style as a result and use colors and marks to express thoughts in a unique way. It has taken me several decades of artistic growth.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

There are many roads in life that one takes, sometimes it is a straight one and sometimes is not. My road to being an artist was one where my formal education was not in art and taken me through many parts in my art pursuit. I am a multidisciplinary BIPOC artist from Southern California. I work with paint, printmaking, digital collage, and other mediums to produce non-objective and figurative abstractions. In addition, I produce works that advocate for social and health causes in order to raise awareness. I use a variety of materials to create a dynamic visual language that evolves with each layer and mark. My art explores the connection between the environment, public health, and advocacy while also bringing to mind femininity, spirituality, nature, and my Yoruba cultural heritage. I have been creating over three decades and I am autodidactic.

The last few years I was part of an artists’ collaborative team that collaborated to produce 33 portraits of African Americans who had influenced the Black community throughout history. The Rise! mural was designed to advance diversity, inclusiveness, and equity. (https://www.adeolastudio.org/mural.html)

Last November I had a solo show “The Unexpected Expectation of Menopause” . Due to naivety, and a lack of information and medical support, the research initially focused on exploring my own menopause narratives. I realized I’m not alone and need other women’s voices to be heard a second element was added to the initiative, and over 70 women were eager to contribute their voices and share their personal menopause stories. The personal body of work and installation of the women’s shared narratives were the two main parts of the exhibition from that point on. It was well appreciated by visitors to the exhibition, but the comments from the younger visitors were more motivating. Many were appreciative of this educational exhibition because it taught them that menopause is more than just hot flashes. These remarks served as the impetus for this project’s next stage of keeping the conversation going. I invite your readers to please join and add your narratives by clicking on this link! (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1FjDXXgmbCJvPvFb2Hvus6ixxyJfpslwzcpV780wG5rc/edit)

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most fulfilling part of being an artist is undoubtedly the act of producing from the soul. You can really get to the essence of who you are when you create with abandon. As a artist we are constantly creating weather in the studio or out of the studio. When I’m not painting or making jewelry, I always have ideas for new projects. The trick is to write them down in my sketchbook before they pass me by. The instant I was able to put my circling thoughts down on canvas and felt every element of the painting or design come to life is rewarding. I create first and foremost for my soul before sharing it with the rest of the world.

I adore watching my artwork interact with the observing public during my shows. It’s always interesting to read people’s comments and how they interpret the emotions the work evoked in them. I enjoyed hearing how the crowd responded to my recent solo exhibition about the Menopause Project and how significant this was to them. Now that is REWARDING indeed!

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

Because we are visual historians, society should encourage the creatives. Many pieces of art have lasted the test of time and are used to preserve history! I am confident that I would have pursued art sooner if I had been encouraged to do so. The visual arts, in my opinion, are at the bottom of the list for receiving support from family and the community at large when compared to other creative forms. I firmly believe that by supporting the next generation of artists, it will benefit our culture and community as a whole and aid future visual historians. SUPPORT the visual creatives y’all!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.adeolastudio.org
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/adeolastudio_art/ www.instagram.com/adeolametalsmithstudio/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DaviesAiyeloja/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adeola-davies-aiyeloja
• Twitter: @Adeola_Studio
• Youtube: @adeolastudio7253
• Other: https://www.pinterest.com/adeolastudio/

Image Credits
Roy Dietrich Tajudeen Aiyeloja