Described as “mesmerising” by The Guardian, award-winning painter Abe Odedina makes his British Art Fair debut at the Saatchi Gallery this September with Son of the Soil, an exclusive solo exhibition as part of the Fair’s Solo Contemporary exhibition presented by curator Virginia Damtsa in collaboration with The African Art Hub.
Architect turned self-taught painter Abe Odedina’s work, hailed as “vivid, layered and deeply human” by Harper’s Bazaar, has been shown in the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, the National Portrait Gallery following a Portrait Award nomination for his The Adoration of Frida Kahlo portrait, Somerset House, Carnegie Hall, and commissioned by British film royalty Danny Boyle.
Abe’s art blends deities, cutting cultural commentary, and vibrant colour inspired by his Nigerian heritage to evoke universal human stories, ancient Yoruba Gods and his relentless fascination with all faiths. “I’ve never met a God I don’t like” says Abe. Instead of a canvas, Abe paints on board, plywood and materials akin to shop fronts to capture irresistible characters in acrylic.
Abe’s artworks are a testament to the universality of the human experience, weaving the poetry of life with everyday miracles. Drawing inspiration from Haitian Voodoo practitioners, painters of the Sacred Heart, anonymous African craftsmen, and his daily walks in Brixton, Abe’s work revives and deconstructs classic themes. By blending ancient Greek and Yoruba mythologies with everyday life, he sparks dynamic narratives that bridge different eras and cultures.
The African Art Hub comes to the British Art Fair for the first time this year, in collaboration with curator Virginia Damtsa to present Abe’s Son of the Soil exhibition. Abe says “I like to think that I come from a long line of African makers. I’m honoured to be in that tradition across the continent. It’s a continuum. The African Art Hub champions exceptional artists from Africa and the diaspora and is happy to collaborate for the first time with boundary pushing curator Virginia Damtsa to broaden its artist’s roster”.
Son of the Soil – Abe Odedina – The British Art Fair, 26- 29 September 2024
Saatchi Gallery, Duke of York’s HQ, King’s Road, London SW3 4RY.
- Paul English