Yisa Akinbolaji art and passion Yisa Akinbolaji has extensively engaged in numerous solo and group art exhibitions (local and international) for more than two decades. His maiden exhibition was held at the National Museum, Onikan, Lagos, Nigeria. Yisa is particularly renowned for his oil paintings, watercolor, acrylic paintings, mixed-media, drawings, wall mural and mosaic works. His dexterity and uncompromising freedom as registered in his color usage has earned him several commissioned projects in wall mural and mosaic installations. Some of his works are now in public and private collections in America, Canada, Britain, Trinidad & Tobago, Italy and in Nigeria. In 2001, a year prior to the 100th anniversary of the Manitoba Society of Artists, Canada, Yisa became the President of the Society. Before he attained this position he has established the admiration of his art collectors and his professional peers. Yisa was the General Secretary of the Society of Nigerian Artists, Lagos State in 1996/97. Yisa Akinbolaji has been published in many journals and books, one of which is, "Nigerian Artists: A Who's Who and bibliography, Oxford, 1993", compiled and edited by Bernice Kelly and Janet L. Stanley of the Smithsonian Institution Libraries, Washington, in the United State of America. He has also been featured in live radio and television art programs. Beyond the Canvas Yisa is an inventive artist. Like the past and legend art masters, Yisa's studio works never kept him away from public events and from offering services to the community. In 1994, he established the Creative Foundation in Lagos, Nigeria to encourage and foster originality among the Nigerian youth. He coordinated many workshops and curated exhibitions which were duly attended by the public. The programs were given wide media coverage and drew large crowd. Yisa travelled to Winnipeg, Canada in 1997. The Creative Foundation Inc. with the annual interactive art seminar was also established by him in November, 1999 to serve Winnipeg youth in Manitoba, Canada. Yisa's enthusiasm in art has been noticed since he was six years of age. After his graduation from high school, he worked as a clerical staff of Union Bank of Nigeria. There, a well traveled client of the institution who noticed his creative talents encouraged him not to "bury" his God-given art talent. Following his resignation from the bank against the wishes of his parents who desired for him to be a banker or pursue a law career, Yisa insistently pursued a career in painting and mosaic installation. His success in art has become a pride to his family members, professional peers and admirers. Yisa has taught art, he is a member of the Canadian Artists' Representation, the President of the Creative Foundation Inc; the past President of The Manitoba Society of Artists and the Art Director of Indian Life Newspaper. ARTIST'S STATEMENT: My art develops from my encounter and imagination. It reflects the way I could have responded in spoken words. I use color to create emphasis and my strokes sometimes come in a flow and coherence like words in a speech. Even in the most abstract situation, I find opportunity to display harmony of colors, that I tell the viewers of my art works that if they like colors they will love the energy which my work brings to life but if they never liked colors, then my art must change them. Yisa Akinbolaji introducing the Creative Foundation to young minds Ekoyo art technique Medium: Ekoyo Size: H16’’ by W20’’ Title: Untitled Beatrice Watson Vice President  Sunday Olukoju Secretary  Bola Olorundare Treasurer  Ify Umeike-Ojo  Visual art Paintings Drawings Mosaic Story telling Indigenous Storytelling 
 Theatre art 
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Literary art Coming soon
Yisa Akinbolaji
President
 
Size: 30’’ by 36’’   Title: New law
Size: H28’’ by W20’’  
Size: H20’’ by W16’’
Executives
Free download booklet 2003 pdf
Free download booklet 2004 pdf