Alimi Adewale

Alimi Adewale (born May 8, 1974) is a Nigerian contemporary visual artist and painter. His works explore topical urban issues, documentation of everyday city people, and the controversial subject of ‘Nudes in African Art’ as a form of expression.

Alimi Adewale was born in Lagos, Nigeria and first studied mechanical engineering. He grew interested in art from visiting exhibitions and honed his knowledge and skills by attending art workshops around the world.

In 2024, his art was featured in the 1-54 contemporary African Art Fair held annually in London as part of Frieze Week.

Education Adewale had a degree in mechanical engineering from University of Ilorin, Nigeria. He did his National Youth Service [NYSC] in 2002 and he was posted to Enugu. He has Interest in art and going to exhibitions also developed his interest in art and after graduating from university, he enrolls as an apprentice under Kamoru Sarumi in the Yaba area of Lagos

Career In 2009, he became a fulltime artist after resigning from his job.

in 2011, he launched a sublime exhibition at Quintessence Gallery that exhibited carnival, Living Spaces and Urban Congestion.

In 2016, Adewale participated in the Konstepidemins residency programme in Sweden, and the following year he was an artist-in-residence at Miliki in Lagos. His works have been exhibited internationally at venues including the Anima Gallery, Belvedere Artspace, Galleri Astley, Just Africa in Stockholm, and Alara. He has also participated in numerous art fairs worldwide in collaboration with Nil Gallery Paris . Global representation and recognition

In January 2024, Adewale was announced as a globally represented artist by Pearl Lam Galleries, extending his international reach across the gallery's spaces in Hong Kong, Singapore and Shanghai. His work has since been featured at Art Cologne and the 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair in London during Frieze Week 2024.

Artistic practice

Adewale's background in mechanical engineering informs his meticulous approach to materiality and construction. His practice incorporates painting, sculpture and photography, combining elements of minimalism, expressionism and abstraction to explore urban issues and the lives of everyday people in African cities.

His celebrated series Who is Afraid of Nudes challenged conventions by celebrating the resilience of African women, arguing that despite systemic disadvantages, women remain one of Africa's greatest untapped resources. He uses thick impasto oils and sculptural finishes that give his work an uncommon three-dimensional quality, introducing the dimension of time into the viewing experience.