Komi Olaf is a Visual Artist and spoken word poet, born in Kaduna, Nigeria. His love and obsession with art and self expression from an early age led him on dynamic journey of self discovery through Architecture, art and poetry. After receiving his Master of Architecture degree in 2009, he began to develop his artistic practice as a self-taught artist working in the emergent tradition of Afro-Futurism, a contemporary genre of art that addresses themes and concerns of the African diaspora through a techno-culture and science fiction lens.
His surrealistic art and poetry bring together distinctive images with perfect unity in a playfully profound vision of a futuristic diaspora. He pushes his art in wondrous directions, immersing his realistically portrayed characters in mysterious dream worlds of splendor and soul. Serving as a witness to the persistence of beauty within a turbulent world. His work draws inspiration from his immediate environment, Music and Positive energy. Komi Olaf does not like the taste of cheese and believes in the existence of aliens and extraterrestrial life. He currently resides in Toronto, Canada and is represented by Agora Gallery In New York City.
Website:
Artist Statement
My work is an extension of who I am. A direct representation of my character and experiences. While I was completing a Masters in Architecture, I developed a passion for both painting and poetry and I have been on a mission to fuse these three elements ever since.
Drawing from the various skills and techniques I have been acquiring over the years, I strive to create unique, inspirational and original work that captures the history of African people and the mind-set of the younger generation. As a Canadian immigrant and a Nigerian in Diaspora, I tend to focus my art on the juxtaposition of unrelated images to produce new meaning. My personal experiences such as the religious conflicts plaguing Nigeria have also had an impact on the work I create.
Ultimately, I would love my work to offer insight into the thoughts of the new generation of artists emerging out of the Diaspora. I want to tell a different story with my work, one that captures the complexities of my African and Canadian heritage as well as sparks the conversations that can inspire change and build a bridge of unity.
