b. 1996, Nigeria
Sola Olulode (b. 1996) is based in London and received her BA in Fine Art Painting from the University of Brighton in 2018.
Her dreamy queer visions explore embodiments of British Black Womxn and Non-Binary Folx. Working with various mediums of natural dyeing, batik, wax, ink, pastel, oil bar, and impasto she develops textural canvases that explore the fluidities of identities. Drawing inspiration from lived experience, friends, and cultural reference points to centre Black Queer Womxn, Sola emphasises the integral need of representation and celebration of queer intimacies.
Her utopian scenes celebrate relationships that transcend crude notions of queer sexuality, her figures exemplify the warm embrace of queer love, a temporal space to bathe in memories of intimacies abundant with scenes of profoundly deep tender connections. Envisaging a world reflective of the celebration of her own identities Sola brings to life representation and visibility of Black Queer lived experiences. Her figures represent multifaceted complex individuals and the energy they hold in their bodies relishing in a boundless temporality of self-validation and joy.
Olulode recently presented a solo exhibition, 'Islands of the Blessed' at Berntson Bhattachrjee in London (2024). In 2022, Olulode exhibited at 1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair with Berntson Bhattacharjee and presented her first solo exhibition, 'Could You Be Love,' with Sapar Contemporary in New York. Recent notable exhibitions include; ‘An Infinity of Traces’ at Lisson Gallery in London (2021); ‘Breakfast Under The Tree’ at Carl Freedman Gallery in Margate (2021); ‘In Heavenly Blue' at Pacers Gallery in Lagos, Nigeria (2021) ; 'Where the Ocean Meets the Beach' at V.O Curations in London (2020). In 2021, Olulode was selected by Art Historian Aindrea Emelife for two projects; a limited edition print for Avant Arte and the exhibition ‘Bold, Black, British’ at Christie’s in London.