MEET
Bukola Samuel
Orioye Bukola (b. 1993, Osogbo, Nigeria) is a self-taught contemporary Nigerian artist whose work explores the intimate intersections of memory, identity, and cultural heritage. Born in a city renowned for its spiritual and artistic legacy, Orioye channels this environment into a visual practice that is both intuitive and intellectually driven.
After completing a degree in Chemistry at the University of Ilorin in 2015, he redirected his path toward the visual arts, refining his skills through mentorship under Tope Fatumbi at Topfat Art Gallery in Ibadan (2019). Despite his non-traditional academic background, Orioye has developed a distinctive painterly language that draws from personal experience, Yoruba symbolism, and ancestral echoes.
His expressive canvases are driven by curiosity and guided by the belief that painting can unearth invisible links between self and society. With a style that shifts between abstraction and figuration, Orioye’s work resonates as a form of visual archaeology — uncovering layered histories and reframing collective memory through colour, texture, and form.
Orioye’s work has been exhibited widely in Nigeria, Europe, and North America, with notable group shows including:
Art Shopping Expo, Carrousel du Louvre, Paris
L.A. Art Show, Los Angeles
From Africa to Detroit, Norwest Gallery, USA
Black History Month, Gato Gordo Gallery, Miami
The Reveal, Akwaaba Gallery, New Jersey
Fluorescence, Mitochondria Gallery, Houston
His paintings have also featured in charity auctions on Artsy, supporting global social causes through contemporary African art.
In 2024, Orioye was awarded the Voice of Regeneration Prize by Unearthodox, affirming his status as a powerful emerging voice in global contemporary art.
