Nigerian Artist Oluwafemi Afolabi on Resilience and Ankara Patterns | iCanvas
Nigerian artist Oluwafemi Afolabi paints resilience into every canvas. Combining bold Ankara patterns with the symbolic image of a bat, his work traces back to a proverb his mother once shared during the hardest years of his life. In this guest blog, Afolabi shares the story behind his art, his heritage, and what he hopes people feel when his work hangs on their wall.
Where Did Oluwafemi Afolabi’s Art Come From?
Can you describe a specific memory, person, or image from your childhood that you think of when you ask yourself, “Where did my art come from?”
When I think about where my art came from, I always remember my childhood in Birnin Gwari, Kaduna State, and my Mother. After losing my father, she raised us with strength and hope. She often said, ‘If a bat has only one hand left, it will still hold onto the tree.’ That proverb stayed with me and became a foundation for my artistic journey.
I also grew up surrounded by my mother’s Ankara fabrics, which came to represent resilience, identity, and love. Today, I combine bats and Ankara patterns in my paintings to tell stories of perseverance, culture, and the beauty that can grow from difficult experiences.
How Does Nigerian Heritage Shape His Art?
What does your Nigerian heritage mean to you as an artist? What parts of that culture show up in your work?
My Nigerian heritage is the heart of my artistic practice. It has shaped the way I see beauty, resilience, and identity. I draw inspiration from the richness of African culture, especially the vibrant colors and patterns of Ankara fabrics, which I use to celebrate our stories and traditions. My work also reflects the strength and dignity of everyday people, inspired by the communities I grew up in.
Through symbols like the bat and Ankara, I explore themes of perseverance, hope, and belonging. I want my paintings to preserve the beauty of our heritage while reminding people that our culture carries wisdom, courage, and stories worth sharing with the world.
Was there a specific person in your life who shaped the way you see the world or think about beauty?
The person who shaped the way I see the world the most is my Mother. After the loss of my father, she became a symbol of strength, resilience, and unconditional love. She taught me that beauty is not just about appearance but about character, perseverance, and hope.
Even during difficult times, she carried herself with dignity and encouraged us to keep moving forward. Her wisdom, especially the proverb about the bat never letting go despite hardship, continues to inspire my work. Every painting I create is, in many ways, a tribute to the lessons she taught me and the resilience she embodied.
What Do the Bat and Ankara Patterns Symbolize?
Who are the figures in your artwork? Are they real people, people you imagined, or something in between?
The figures in my paintings exist somewhere between real and imagined. They are inspired by the people I have encountered throughout my life, family, friends, and members of my community, but they are not portraits of specific individuals. Instead, they represent shared human experiences, especially resilience, hope, and identity.
I create them as universal characters so that people from different backgrounds can see a part of themselves in the work. Through their expressions, posture, and the Ankara patterns they wear, I tell stories that celebrate African culture and the strength we carry through life’s challenges.
Are there symbols, patterns, gestures, or images that you keep coming back to in your work? What do they mean to you?
Yes. I often return to two central symbols in my work: the bat and Ankara patterns. The bat represents resilience and perseverance, inspired by a proverb my mother shared with me about holding on even in difficult times. It reminds me that strength is often found in endurance.
Ankara patterns represent identity, heritage, and the richness of African culture. Beyond their beauty, they carry memories, traditions, and a sense of belonging. Together, these symbols allow me to tell stories of hope, courage, and self-acceptance. They are more than visual elements, they are the language through which I share my personal journey and connect with the experiences of others.
How Does Oluwafemi Afolabi Create His Paintings?
Describe your workspace; where do you make your art?
I currently create my work in a small apartment that also serves as my studio. It is a modest space, but it is where my ideas come to life through sketching, painting, and experimentation. Every corner reminds me that creativity is not defined by the size of a studio but by the passion behind the work.
As my practice continues to grow, I hope to move into a larger studio where I can work on bigger paintings, explore new ideas, and create an environment that welcomes collaboration and deeper artistic exploration.
When you start a new piece, what is the first thing you do?
Every new painting begins with an idea or emotion I want to communicate. I spend time reflecting on the story I want to tell before making quick sketches to explore composition and symbolism.
Once the concept feels clear, I begin building the painting, carefully choosing colors, Ankara patterns, and other elements that best express the message. For me, each piece is a journey from an idea to a visual story that invites people to reflect, connect, and find hope.
What Does He Want People to Feel From His Art?
When your work ends up on someone’s wall, what do you hope it does for them emotionally? What do you want them to think about?
When someone lives with one of my paintings, I hope it becomes more than a beautiful image. I want it to remind them of the strength they carry within themselves, even during difficult seasons of life.
I hope my work encourages people to embrace their identity, appreciate the richness of African culture, and see beauty in resilience rather than perfection. If a painting gives someone hope, sparks meaningful conversations, or helps them feel seen and understood, then I feel it has fulfilled its purpose.
Bring Nigerian Artist Oluwafemi Afolabi’s Story Into Your Space
Every piece Afolabi creates carries the same thread, his mother’s resilience, his Nigerian roots, and the belief that beauty can grow out of hardship. When one of his paintings hangs on your wall, it’s not just decoration, it’s a small daily reminder to hold on the way the bat in the proverb does.
Explore Oluwafemi Afolabi’s full collection on iCanvas and find the piece that speaks to your own story of resilience.